Minas Basin
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Cities
- — known for the Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary, 5 km away, which is home to abundant waterfowl and marshbirds
- — known for its seasonal theatre productions, fossil and rock hounding attractions, museums, high tides and heritage buildings
- — a former coal-mining town that is home to the Anne Murray Centre, which celebrates the work of the popular singer
- — the largest town in the region, and a major railway hub
Other destinations
- — Fossil records dating from 310 million years ago, near Amherst
Understand
The Minas Basin is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and a sub-basin of the Fundy Basin.
The Mi'kmaq were the first people to inhabit the area around the Minas Basin. Mi'kmaq tradition ties the god Glooscap in with significant geographical features such as Cape Blomidon and Five Islands.
European explorers and traders arrived in the early 1600s. Among them were the French explorer Samuel de Champlain who explored the copper deposits at Cape d'Or at the entrance to the Basin in 1607. Champlain bestowed the name "Port of Mines" on nearby Advocate Harbour to reflect the seams of copper ore at Cape d'Or. The name "Les Mines" was later anglicized to Minas Basin.
French Acadian settlements began in the late 1600s first with settlements around the southern shore of the Minas Basin. The Acadians reclaimed considerable farmland through the use of dykes and aboiteaux. Their dyke systems — greatly expanded by later additions — are still used near Truro and Wolfville at Port Williams and Grand Pré. In 1755, the British forcibly expelled the over 12,000 Acadians from Grand Pré, Pisiguit, Cobequid, and Beaubassin, in what became known as the Grand Dérangement, or Great Expulsion.
The Mi'kmaq were the first people to inhabit the area around the Minas Basin. Mi'kmaq tradition ties the god Glooscap in with significant geographical features such as Cape Blomidon and Five Islands.
European explorers and traders arrived in the early 1600s. Among them were the French explorer Samuel de Champlain who explored the copper deposits at Cape d'Or at the entrance to the Basin in 1607. Champlain bestowed the name "Port of Mines" on nearby Advocate Harbour to reflect the seams of copper ore at Cape d'Or. The name "Les Mines" was later anglicized to Minas Basin.
French Acadian settlements began in the late 1600s first with settlements around the southern shore of the Minas Basin. The Acadians reclaimed considerable farmland through the use of dykes and aboiteaux. Their dyke systems — greatly expanded by later additions — are still used near Truro and Wolfville at Port Williams and Grand Pré. In 1755, the British forcibly expelled the over 12,000 Acadians from Grand Pré, Pisiguit, Cobequid, and Beaubassin, in what became known as the Grand Dérangement, or Great Expulsion.
Get in
By car
The Trans-Canada Highway 104 follows the northeastern edge of region, connecting Amherst and Truro with New Brunswick, Halifax and the rest of Nova Scotia. Highway 104 between Amherst and Truro is known for car accidents in the winter.By bus
Maritime Bus and Greyhound Canada stop in Amherst and Truro and provide bus connections to Moncton, Charlottetown, Cape Breton Island and Halifax.By plane
There are no major airports in the region, but a couple are within an hours drive. One hour south is the Robert L. Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), at Halifax, and about 45 minutes north is Greater Moncton International Airport (YQM).Get around
The only way to really get around and see the region is to have your own set of wheels. Highway 2 connects Springhill and Parrsboro with Amherst and Truro, while Highway 209 will bring you to the shores of the Minas Basin. The Glooscap Trail is a scenic route around the Minas Basin and Cobequid Bay from Wolfville to Amherst.
See
-
address: Southampton RoadWaterfowl and many other marshbirds are very abundant in the sanctuary, and the majority of waterfowl species found in the Atlantic Provinces can be found within this site. A 2.5-km interpretive hike circles Laytons Lake.
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Bay of Fundy
address: ParrsboroHome of the world's highest tides, the Bay of Fundy is a unique ecosystem that attracts millions of migratory birds, whales and abundant marine life. Twice daily the bay empties exposing broad sweeping tidal flats, gem stones and fossils -
address: SpringhillMuseum dedicated to Anne Murray, a pop, country, and adult contemporary singer who has sold over 55 million albums, received four Grammy awards, 24 Juno awards, 3 American Music Awards, and 3 Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
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Springhill Coal Mining National Historic Site and Springhill Miners' Museum
address: SpringhillTour the depths of a Springhill coal mine, hear stories of the disaster of 1891, the 1916 subterranean fire which raged through the galleries, the loss of 39 men in the 1956 explosion and the major “bump” in 1958 which killed 75 men.
Do
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Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park
address: 149 Creighton Road, Shubenacadie - The Truro Winter Long John Festival in early February is the focus of the town's winter events (curling, snowshoeing, sledge hockey, skating, pickleball).
Eat
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Sutherland's Diner
address: 2808 Main St. Shubenacadie on the 102Sandwiches, fish & chips, burgers at low prices.