Nova Scotia Climate

Course Description

Nova Scotia is a province of rolling hills, flowing rivers and rugged coastline. This province’s landscape and climate, has often been compared to that of Scotland. In fact, Nova Scotia is Latin for New Scotland!

Geography
Nova Scotia is 55,000 square kilometres in size and is connected to the rest of Canada, by the 28 kilometre Isthmus of Chignecto. Nova Scotia was discovered by European explorers and was one of the original British Colonies in North America.

• The Canso Causeway joins Cape Breton Island with mainland Nova Scotia.
• Nova Scotia’s coastline, if you stretched it out as far as it would go, is 7,400 kilometres in length. But the overall length of the province is actually only 575 kilometres. The average width is 130 kilometres.
• The highest point in Nova Scotia is at White Hill Lake in Victoria County, and is part of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It stands 530 metres above sea level.
• The major rivers of Nova Scotia are the Annapolis, St. Mary’s, Medway, Mersey, Shubenacadie and Margaree. Shubenacadie is actually the longest river!
• Our largest lake – we have 3,000 of them – is the Bras d’Or Lake in Cape Breton.

Climate
Nova Scotia’s daily temperatures vary, depending on the season. Nova Scotia’s climate is influences greatly by our proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Nova Scotia has one of the warmest winters in Canada. Fall is one of our most impressive seasons when the forrest leaves explode into colour.

Average temperatures are:

• Spring from 2° to 9° C
• Summer from 16° to 30°
• Fall about 18° C
• Winter about -3° C