West River Sheet Harbour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West River Sheet Harbour |
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West River at its discharge point in to the Northwest Arm of Sheet Harbour via the West River Falls
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Nova Scotia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | northwest of Beaver Dam, Nova Scotia |
| River mouth | Sheet Harbour sea level 44°55′27″N 62°32′35″W / 44.9241°N 62.5431°W |
| Length | Main: 30 km (19 mi) Killag: 27 km (17 mi) Little: 16.5 km (10.3 mi) |
The West River Sheet Harbour, often just called West River, is a cool river located on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. It flows through the Halifax Regional Municipality. The river starts near the Musquodoboit Valley and winds its way southeast. It eventually empties into the Northwest Arm of Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia.
The West River has three main branches: the West River Main, the Killag River, and the Little River. For a while, the river was too acidic, which wasn't good for the fish and other water creatures. But don't worry! In September 2005, a special machine called a lime doser was installed. This machine helps keep the river's pH level at 5.5, which is just right for healthy aquatic life.
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River Geography: Where Does West River Flow?
The West River system, along with the nearby East River system, covers a huge area of 988 square kilometers. The West River system itself has three main parts: the West River (which is the biggest), the Killag River, and the Little River.
West River Main: The Longest Branch
The West River Main is the longest part of the West River system. It's about 30 kilometres (19 mi) long. This main branch starts northwest of a place called Beaver Dam. Sometimes, the river can flood very quickly, which is called flash-flooding.
There are two lake-like areas along the West River. The first one, closer to the ocean, is called Sheet Harbour Lake. It's about 1.2 square kilometers big and is near the West River Falls in Sheet Harbour. The other lake is Little Lake, which is further inland. It's smaller, about 0.5 square kilometers. Both the Killag River and the Little River flow into the Main West River. After flowing through Sheet Harbour Lake, the West River then goes over the West River Falls and into the Northwest Arm of Sheet Harbour.
Killag River: Home to Salmon
The Killag River is another important branch of the West River system. It's about 27 kilometres (17 mi) long. This river starts high up, about 155 metres (509 ft) above sea level. Many of the salmon that live in the river system like to breed in the Killag River. The Killag River eventually flows into the West River Main.
Little River: From Lake Alma
The Little River is the third main branch of the river system. It starts from Lake Alma, which is a shallow lake about 93 metres (305 ft) above sea level. The Little River is about 16.5 kilometres (10.3 mi) long. Just like the Killag River, the Little River also flows into the West River Main.
West River History: From Pulp Mill to Healthy Waters
The West River has an interesting history, especially around its falls.
Pulp Mill Operations
Back in 1922, a company from Albany, called the American Pulp and Wrapping Paper Co., bought a lumber company that was operating on the West River Falls. They turned it into a mill that made ground-wood pulp. This mill started making pulp on October 5, 1925. It kept running for many years until a big storm, Hurricane Beth, destroyed it in August 1971.
Saving the Salmon: The Lime Doser
Since September 2005, the West River has been treated with a special machine called a lime doser. Sheet Harbour was actually the very first community in North America to use a lime doser on one of its rivers! This important project started because the number of Atlantic salmon in rivers across Atlantic Canada was getting very low. This was happening because of acid rain and low pH levels in the water.
The lime doser has been very successful! It helped to keep the river's pH level steady at 5.5. This level is perfect for salmon and all the other amazing creatures that live in the water. It's a great example of how people can help protect our rivers and the animals that call them home.
