Tusket River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tusket River
Country	Canada
Province	Nova Scotia
Physical characteristics
Main source	Long Tusket Lake
River mouth	Gulf of Maine sea level
Length	93 km (58 mi)
Basin features
Basin size	2,000 km (1,200 mi)

The Tusket River is an important river in Nova Scotia, Canada. It flows through Yarmouth County. This river system is a special place for nature and people.

Where the Tusket River Flows

The Tusket River is a big river system in southwestern Nova Scotia. It collects water from a large area called a drainage basin. Many smaller rivers and branches flow into it. The river also goes through several lakes.

Near the ocean, the river becomes a tidal estuary. This means the river's fresh water mixes with salty ocean water. The water here is called brackish, which is a mix of fresh and salt water. This happens because tides from the Gulf of Maine push salt water upstream.

The river starts in the Tobeatic Wilderness Area. This area is part of the larger Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve. It's a protected place for nature.

Amazing Plants and Animals

Unique Plants of the Tusket River

The Tusket River is famous for its many special plants. These plants grow along the coast. Some, like the Plymouth Gentian (Sabatia kennedyana) and Pink Coreopsis (Coreopsis rosea), are found only here in Canada. They grow on gentle sandy or gravelly shores.

There is even an online guide to help identify these plants. Wilson's Lake has one of the largest groups of these coastal plants in Canada. It is also home to the Tusket River Nature Reserve, a small but very important protected area.

Groundseltree (Baccharis halimifolia)

In 2011, scientists found another rare plant here. It was called Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina). This was the first time this plant was found growing in Canada. It was discovered in a new protected area.

The Groundseltree (Baccharis halimifolia) also grows near the Tusket River Estuary. This is the farthest north it grows in North America. This white-flowering shrub grows south along the Atlantic coast to Florida and Texas.

Fish and Fishing Fun

Fishing in the Tusket River is very popular. People enjoy sport fishing here. The upper parts of the river are especially good for fishing. In 2006, The Guardian newspaper even called it one of the top 10 fishing spots in the world!

There is also a special type of fishing here for "river herring." This includes fish like alewife and blueback herring. Fishermen use dip nets and fixed gill nets to catch them.

Towns Along the River

Many communities are located along the Tusket River. They stretch from the northeast to the southwest.