Eight Geologically Noteworthy Areas Up the Evangeline Trail in Nova Scotia
As the giant Fundy tides wear away the towering sea cliffs and wash the shores many interesting rocks, fossils, zeolites, and semi-precious stones are disclosed. With its fascinating geology dating back hundreds of millions of years the Bay of Fundy is paradise for geologists.
The Evangeline Trail, found along Nova Scotia’s Fundy shore between Yarmouth and Windsor, is named after Longfellow’s poem Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie which was inspired by the Acadian heritage found in this section of Nova Scotia.
1. Cape Forchu - "Cape Forchu, located around Yarmouth and loved by travellers for the apple core formed lighthouse, indicates signs of Nova Scotia's once active volcanoes. Cape Forchu is made up of Silurian volcanic rocks.
2. Cape St. Mary - The cliffs at Cape St. Mary, a part of Nova Scotia's French Acadian shoreline, are made up of metamorphosed sedimentary rocks coming from the Cambrian-Ordovician era. Comparable rocks may be uncovered along bits of the Lighthouse Route (the Blue Rocks) and the Marine Drive (Taylor Head).
3. Digby - A fold in Cambrian-Ordovician rocks can be viewed just off of Hwy 101 nearest Digby.
4. Digby Neck and the Islands - Both Brier and Manhattan are made from Jurassic basalt lava. As the lava cooled, it often formed vertical polygonal columns such as Balancing Rock in Tiverton.
5. North Mountain Shore - Dramatic cliffs and headlands, formed by Jurassic basalt lava flows, mark this area of Nova Scotia. The vesicular tops of these flows created the perfect setting for the formation of mineral crystals such as zeolites, amethyst and agates. Communities popular for their mineral crystals include Harbourville, Halls Harbour and Scots Bay.
6. Blomidon - More than 200 million years back, when Nova Scotia was located in the subtropics, red Triassic sedimentary rocks developed in lakes and brooks in what's currently the Province's Annapolis Valley. Those rocks make up the cliffs seen in this region, including those in Blomidon.
7. Blue Beach - Sandstones and mudstones deposited on the shores of Carboniferous period lakes made Nova Scotia's Blue Beach. Geological attractions at Blue Beach comprise of 350 million year old ripple marks, raindrop prints, fossil plants, fish scales and amphibian footprints.
8. St. Croix - People travelling down Hwy 101 from Halifax will be able to watch the white gypsum cliffs at St. Croix. Similar to the salt excavated at Pugwash and the limestones along the banks of the Kennetcook Stream, St. Croix gypsum forms a sedimentary deposit of the tropical "Windsor Sea" which covered this region in the Carboniferous era. Sea life, like horn corals present in limestone, thrived in this "sea".
The Evangeline Trail, found along Nova Scotia’s Fundy shore between Yarmouth and Windsor, is named after Longfellow’s poem Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie which was inspired by the Acadian heritage found in this section of Nova Scotia.
1. Cape Forchu - "Cape Forchu, located around Yarmouth and loved by travellers for the apple core formed lighthouse, indicates signs of Nova Scotia's once active volcanoes. Cape Forchu is made up of Silurian volcanic rocks.
2. Cape St. Mary - The cliffs at Cape St. Mary, a part of Nova Scotia's French Acadian shoreline, are made up of metamorphosed sedimentary rocks coming from the Cambrian-Ordovician era. Comparable rocks may be uncovered along bits of the Lighthouse Route (the Blue Rocks) and the Marine Drive (Taylor Head).
3. Digby - A fold in Cambrian-Ordovician rocks can be viewed just off of Hwy 101 nearest Digby.
4. Digby Neck and the Islands - Both Brier and Manhattan are made from Jurassic basalt lava. As the lava cooled, it often formed vertical polygonal columns such as Balancing Rock in Tiverton.
5. North Mountain Shore - Dramatic cliffs and headlands, formed by Jurassic basalt lava flows, mark this area of Nova Scotia. The vesicular tops of these flows created the perfect setting for the formation of mineral crystals such as zeolites, amethyst and agates. Communities popular for their mineral crystals include Harbourville, Halls Harbour and Scots Bay.
6. Blomidon - More than 200 million years back, when Nova Scotia was located in the subtropics, red Triassic sedimentary rocks developed in lakes and brooks in what's currently the Province's Annapolis Valley. Those rocks make up the cliffs seen in this region, including those in Blomidon.
7. Blue Beach - Sandstones and mudstones deposited on the shores of Carboniferous period lakes made Nova Scotia's Blue Beach. Geological attractions at Blue Beach comprise of 350 million year old ripple marks, raindrop prints, fossil plants, fish scales and amphibian footprints.
8. St. Croix - People travelling down Hwy 101 from Halifax will be able to watch the white gypsum cliffs at St. Croix. Similar to the salt excavated at Pugwash and the limestones along the banks of the Kennetcook Stream, St. Croix gypsum forms a sedimentary deposit of the tropical "Windsor Sea" which covered this region in the Carboniferous era. Sea life, like horn corals present in limestone, thrived in this "sea".
About the Author:
Discover more about the Bay of Fundy geology plus the spectacular things it provides on the official Bay of Fundy blog.