All Canada Links to Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Facts

Facts About Nova Scotia

Population (2001). 908,007--rank, 7th province. Urban, 55%; rural, 45%. Persons per square mile, 42 (per square kilometer, 16.2)--rank, 2nd province.

Nova Scotia occupies the southeastern peninsula of Canada and nearby Cape Breton Island on the Atlantic Ocean. The peninsula is joined to New Brunswick on the northwest by the Isthmus of Chignecto. To the west is the Bay of Fundy. On the north is Northumberland Strait, which separates Nova Scotia from Prince Edward Island. The Strait of Canso separates the peninsula from Cape Breton Island on the northeast. To the northwest is the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
After Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia is the smallest Canadian province. Its area measures 21,425 square miles (55,490 square kilometers).

Of the total population, 72 percent are of British descent. Those of only French descent constitute about 8 percent and those of some British and French background, another 8 percent. The remaining 12 percent are of European, Asian, African, or American Indian origin. The Micmac Indians were the earliest inhabitants of the region, and many of them live today on reservations. With 42 persons per square mile (16.2 per square kilometer), Nova Scotia is the second most densely populated province in the country after Prince Edward Island. More than half of the province's residents are concentrated in urban areas.

Largest Cities (1991 census)
Halifax (114,455; metropolitan area, 320,501). Provincial capital and largest city; seaport with extensive port facilities; commercial and educational center; naval station; food products; petroleum refining, shipbuilding; Dalhousie University (see Halifax, N.S.).
Dartmouth (67,798). "City of the Lakes" on Halifax Harbour; petroleum refinery, manufacturing, shipyards, aircraft parts.
Sydney (26,063). Business center for Cape Breton Island; coal mining, steel milling, metalworking, woodworking, ship repairing; chemicals; foods; St. Francis Xavier Junior College.
Glace Bay (19,501). On east coast of Cape Breton Island; coal-mining center; deep-sea fisheries.
Truro (11,683). On Salmon River; in center of agricultural district; textiles, lumber, chemicals, dairy products.
Extent. Area, 21,425 square miles (55,490 square kilometers), including 1,023 square miles (2,650 square kilometers) of water surface (9th province in size).
Greatest length (north to south), 381 miles (613 kilometers); greatest width (east to west), 150 miles (241 kilometers).
Elevation. Highest, in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, 1,747 feet (532 meters); lowest, sea level; average, 600 feet (183 meters).
Temperature. Extremes--lowest, -42o F (-41.1o C), Upper Stewiacke, Jan. 31, 1920; highest, 101o F (38.3o C), Collegeville, Aug. 19, 1935.
Averages at Halifax--January, 26.0o F (-3.3o C); July, 65.3o F (18.5o C); annual, 45.4o F (7.4o C).
Averages at Sydney January, 24.3o F (-4.3o C); July, 64.9o F (18.3o C); annual, 43.2o F (6.2o C).
Precipitation. Average annual total--at Halifax, 47.30 inches (1,201 millimeters); at Sydney, 41.82 inches (1,062 millimeters).
Land Use. Agricultural, 7.7%; forest, 78.8%; urban and developed, 1.9%; wildland, 11.6%.
Major Products
Agricultural. Dairy products, eggs, poultry, fruits, vegetables, beef, pigs.
Manufactured. Fish products, publishing, ships, wood products, food and beverages, animal feed, tires.
Mined. Coal, gypsum, barite, salt, peat, sand and gravel, petroleum, natural gas.