List of rivers of Nova Scotia facts for kids

Nova Scotia is a province in Canada with many amazing rivers! These rivers are super important because they carry water from the land out to the big Atlantic Ocean. They do this through four main "watersheds" or "drainage basins." Think of a watershed like a giant bowl where all the rain and snow that falls eventually flows into one main river or lake, and then out to the ocean.

Nova Scotia's rivers flow into these four main areas:

• The Gulf of Maine (which includes the famous Bay of Fundy)
• The Northumberland Strait
• The Gulf of Saint Lawrence
• And directly into the Atlantic Ocean itself

Each of these areas has its own special rivers and features.

Rivers Flowing into the Gulf of Maine

The Gulf of Maine is a large body of water on the east coast of North America. In Nova Scotia, rivers flow into it from the southwestern part of the province, from a place called Fort Lawrence all the way to Cape St. Mary.

The Bay of Fundy's Rivers

The Bay of Fundy is famous for having the highest tides in the world! Imagine the water rising and falling as much as a four-story building every day. Rivers that flow into the Bay of Fundy are greatly affected by these powerful tides.

The Nova Scotia coastline along the Bay of Fundy starts at Fort Lawrence and goes around Cape Chignecto towards Truro. Then it follows the Annapolis Valley west to Brier Island.

Inside the Bay of Fundy, there are two main "basins" or large areas where water collects:

• Chignecto Bay: This starts at Fort Lawrence and ends at Cape Chignecto.
• Minas Basin: This area includes everything east of Ramshead Point (near Diligent River) and Cape Split.

Some of the rivers that flow into the Bay of Fundy include:

• Apple River (This is the most western river on the north side of the Bay of Fundy.)
• Fox River
• Diligent River (This is the most eastern river on the north side of the Bay of Fundy.)
• Annapolis River (This is the most eastern river on the south side of the Bay of Fundy.)
• Bear River
• Little River

Rivers of the Minas Basin

The Minas Basin is a part of the Bay of Fundy, and its rivers also experience those incredible tides. It flows into the main Bay of Fundy between Ramshead Point and Cape Split.

Some important rivers here are:

• Gaspereau River
• Avon River
• River Hebert
• Kennetcook River
• St. Croix River
• Shubenacadie River
• Stewiacke River
• Nine Mile River
• Salmon River
• Debert River
• Economy River
• Farrells River

Rivers Flowing Directly into the Gulf of Maine

Beyond the Bay of Fundy, some rivers in Nova Scotia flow directly into the Gulf of Maine. This coastline starts at Brier Island and goes to Cape St. Mary.

Here are a few of these rivers:

• Sissiboo River
• Meteghan River
• Salmon River
• Tusket River
• Abrams River

Rivers Flowing into the Atlantic Ocean

Many of Nova Scotia's rivers flow directly into the vast Atlantic Ocean. This coastline stretches from Cape Sable Island all the way to Cape Canso. We can divide this long coastline into two main parts: the South Shore and the Eastern Shore.

Rivers of the South Shore

The South Shore is a beautiful coastal area that runs from Cape Sable Island up to Halifax Harbour.

Some of the rivers you'll find here are:

• Barrington River
• Clyde River
• Jordan River
• Mersey River
• Shelburne River
• Medway River
• Petite Rivière
• LaHave River
• Gold River
• Ingram River

Rivers of the Eastern Shore

The Eastern Shore stretches from Halifax Harbour to the Strait of Canso. This area is known for its rugged beauty and many small islands.

Rivers on the Eastern Shore include:

• Sackville River
• Musquodoboit River
• West River Sheet Harbour
• East River Sheet Harbour
• St. Mary's River
• Country Harbour River
• Larrys River
• Milford Haven River

Rivers Flowing into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence

The Gulf of Saint Lawrence is a large arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Nova Scotia from other parts of Canada. The Nova Scotia coastline along this gulf starts at Cape Canso and goes to Cape George Point.

Rivers of Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is a large island that is part of Nova Scotia. Many rivers here flow into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

Some of these rivers are:

• Aspy River
• Ingonish River
• Sydney River
• Mira River
• Margaree River
• Chéticamp River
• Mackenzie River

Rivers of Bras d'Or Lake

The Bras d'Or Lake is a unique inland saltwater sea located in the heart of Cape Breton Island. It's connected to the Atlantic Ocean by narrow channels. Many rivers flow into this beautiful lake.

Rivers that feed into Bras d'Or Lake include:

• River Denys
• Middle River
• Baddeck River
• Skye River
• Georges River

Rivers of St. George's Bay

St. George's Bay is a bay on the northern coast of mainland Nova Scotia, facing the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

Rivers here include:

• Tracadie River
• Afton River
• Pomquet River
• South River
• West River

Rivers Flowing into the Northumberland Strait

The Northumberland Strait is a narrow body of water that separates Nova Scotia from Prince Edward Island. The Nova Scotia coastline along this strait starts at Cape George Point and goes to the Tidnish River.

Some of the rivers that flow into the Northumberland Strait are:

• Ohio River
• James River
• Barneys River
• East River of Pictou
• Middle River of Pictou
• West River of Pictou
• River John
• Wallace River
• Pugwash River
• River Philip
• Tidnish River

See also

• List of rivers of Canada