Musquodoboit Harbour facts for kids

Location in Nova Scotia

Musquodoboit Harbour is a wonderful natural harbour found on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. It's a special place where the Musquodoboit River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. This area is not just beautiful; it's also very important for nature. In fact, it's recognized internationally as a Ramsar site, which means it's a wetland that is important around the world! There is also a community nearby that shares the same name, Musquodoboit Harbour.

Exploring Musquodoboit Harbour

Musquodoboit Harbour is like a long, narrow arm of the sea. It's an estuary, which is a place where a river meets the ocean, mixing fresh and saltwater.

How Big Is It?

• The harbour stretches about 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) long.
• At its widest part, near the ocean, it's about 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles) wide.
• As you go further inland, where the Musquodoboit River enters, it gets much narrower, less than 100 meters (about 330 feet) wide.

The Harbour's Entrance

The entrance, or mouth, of the harbour is framed by different pieces of land:

• On the western side, you'll find Whale Point and Collins Head.
• On the eastern side, Jeddore Cape marks the edge.

Martinique Beach Provincial Park

A very cool feature of the harbour is Martinique Beach Provincial Park. This park is home to Martinique Beach, a long, sandy beach that stretches for 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles). This natural sand barrier helps to narrow the harbour's mouth on the western side. It's a popular spot for visitors and locals alike!

Islands and Shores

• The harbour has many small islands scattered throughout its waters.
• The western side of the harbour is mostly untouched by buildings. This is because there aren't many roads leading to that side.
• The eastern side, however, has a local road. This road connects the community of Musquodoboit Harbour at the northern end to other small communities like Ostrea Lake and Pleasant Point further south.