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Cape
Breton's Cabot Trail 1 |
Rocky shorelines, rolling
farmlands and strong cultural roots focused around community, dance and music
are the key elements that make up Nova
Scotia's Cape Breton
region, a large island located on the Northeast tip of the province.
Historical roots run deep
in Cape Breton, for this was one of the places where Canada was founded. Significant
sites and buildings are located on every corner, most dating back as far as
the 18th century, a time when west of the Atlantic shore, Canada
was merely barren landscape.
Besides the picturesque
landscape and rich history, a major attraction of Cape Breton is its people—friendly,
community-oriented, lively folks who spend their free time at ceilidhs (a traditional
Gaelic-style social dance), interacting with neighbours and visitors and dancing
the night away to the tunes of fiddles and traditional singing.
GEOGRAPHY
At 10,311 sq km (3,981 sq
mi), Cape Breton is the 75th largest island in the world, and is conveniently
connected with the mainland via the Canso
Causeway, located along the Trans
Canada Highway.
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A Waterfall in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park 2 |
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The landscape in Cape Breton
is diverse. The massive Bras d'Or salt water lake system takes up most of the
middle of the island, although there are also a number of freshwater lakes and
rivers. The northeastern tip of the island is dominated by the large hills and
cliffs of the Cape
Breton Highlands National Park. Rocky shorelines and the occasional
sandy beach, populated by beachgoers and puffins, outline the island.
Cape Breton is made up of
several important communities, including Sydney,
Baddeck, Cheticamp,
Port Hawkesbury
and Louisbourg.
Collectively, the communities in and around Sydney (Including Glace
Bay and Sydney
Mines) are known as the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM for
short) and have a total population of nearly 110,000 (as of January 1, 2006),
making the CBRM the second most populated municipality in Nova Scotia after
the Halifax Regional Municipality.
HISTORY
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Famous Residents
of Cape Breton
Al MacInnis - Hockey Player
Alexander Graham Bell - Inventor
Angus MacAskill - World's Largest Natural Giant
Alistair MacLeod - Writer
Ashley MacIsaac - Fiddle Player
Barra MacNeils - Musical Group
Bobby Smith - Hockey Player
Buddy MacMaster - Fiddle Player
Danny Gallivan - NHL Announcer
Hugh MacLennan - Writer
Natalie MacMaster - Fiddle Player
Rita McNeill - Singer
The Rankin Family - Musical Group
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Archeological evidence has
shown that the first residents of Cape Breton were the Maritime Archaic Indians,
who had evolved into the Mi'kmaq Nation by the time European explorers arrived
in the area. The first of these travellers was Italian Giovanni Caboto, who
sailed over in 1497. It's not clear where he landed first - Cape Breton's Cabot's
Landing or Newfoundland's
Bonavista - but Cape
Bretonners have commemorated the historic event by naming the northeastern area
of the island Cabot's landing and erecting a monument of the famed explorer
located in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Originally, the island was
settled by French pioneers, who named the island Île Royale and erected
the legendary Fortress
of Louisbourg to protect their Acadian colony. In 1673, the Treaty of
Paris saw ownership of the island transferred to the British, whose land also
included present-day Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick, and later Prince
Edward Island and Newfoundland. The capital city of Cape Breton Island
was declared in 1784 to be Sydney.
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| Statue
of Giovanni Caboto |
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In 1820, Cape Breton Island
officially amalgamated with the colony of Nova Scotia, a move that aided transportation
between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and also led to a mass industrialization
of the island. The early 1800s also saw a massive influx of Scottish settlers,
who found themselves in a coastal higland setting not much different from the
one they left behind.
The late Nineteenth Century
also saw Cape Breton become the location of important technological advances—Alexander
Graham Bell, the legendary inventor of the telephone, the iron lung, the hearing
aid and more, settled in a prominent estate in Baddeck from 1885 until his death,
and it was here that he first flew his famous Silver Dart. As well, Guglielmo
Marconi sent the first transatlantic message from Glace Bay, just east of Sydney,
to a receiving station in Cornwall England. His contributions are honoured in
the Marconi
National Historic Site.
ECONOMY & INDUSTRY
Historically, a major industry
in Cape Breton has been coal mining, but as the industry slowly fizzles out
worldwide, Cape Breton has seen a steady decline in coal profits. Another major
industry, steel production, has also taken a hit since the 1980s, especially
with the closure of Sydney's major steel plant, Sydney Steel Corporation, in
2000.
The location of Sydney on
Cape Breton Island makes it an ideal port city for marine cargo ships transporting
a variety of goods. The harbour also hosts many cargo boats and ferries
travelling to and from Newfoundland, as well as cruise ships that frequent the
maritime coast in the summer months. Outside of the industrial hub of Sydney,
the economy has relied on a mix of agriculture and fishing.
These days, the main industry
in Cape Breton is tourism, and rightly so—Cape Breton has a one-of-a-kind
culture, spectacular scenery and a number of amazing attractions and activities.
ACCOMMODATIONS
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The
Beach at Cheticamp 3 |
In terms of accommodations,
Cape Breton has it all, from 5-star resorts
to big-name hotels
and motels to family-run inns
to campgrounds.
Most hotels and resorts are located in the larger communities of Sydney and
Baddeck, but reasonably-priced accommodations can be found throughout the island.
Visit WorldWeb.com's
accommodation pages for more information.
CULTURE
Founded by the 17th century
Acadians and later populated by migrating Scots, the people of modern-day Cape
Breton are a colourful group of Gaelic Canadians who embrace contemporary North
American culture while not forgetting their roots. Many of the elderly citizens
of the Island speak Gaelic as their first language, and while globalization
has seen the recent generations speak mainly English, the old ways are not forgotten.
The Gaelic
College of Arts upholds the traditions of the highland Scots by teaching
and promoting Gaelic culture through academic programs, as well as festivals
and workshops.
Cape Breton hosts a number
of world-class festivals and celebrations that pay homage to the traditions
and culture of the region, including the award-winning Celtic
Colours International Festival, which features dozens of concerts and
several other festivities for visitors and locals.
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Precip. |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
-9°C
(16ºF) |
0°C
(32ºF) |
152
mm |
| Feb |
-10°C
(14ºF) |
-1°C
(30ºF) |
125
mm |
| Mar
|
-6°C
(21ºF) |
1°C
(34ºF) |
131
mm |
| Apr |
1°C
(34ºF) |
6°C
(43ºF) |
125
mm |
| May
|
2°C
(36ºF) |
13°C
(55ºF) |
98
mm |
| Jun
|
7°C
(45ºF) |
19°C
(66ºF) |
91
mm |
| Jul |
12°C
(54ºF) |
23°C
(73ºF) |
86
mm |
|
Aug |
13°C
(55ºF) |
23°C
(73ºF) |
97
mm |
|
Sep |
8°C
(46ºF) |
18°C
(64ºF) |
103
mm |
|
Oct |
4°C
(39ºF) |
13°C
(55ºF) |
138
mm |
|
Nov |
0°C
(32ºF) |
7°C
(45ºF) |
160
mm |
|
Dec |
-5°C
(23ºF) |
2°C
(36ºF) |
173
mm |
|
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| Climate
data for CBRM from the Weather Network |
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CLIMATE
The climate in Cape Breton
is fairly moderate, but it is important to keep in mind that the weather conditions
of the coastal regions of the island are typically cooler and more volatile,
whereas the inland areas are generally warmer and more stable. Cape Breton's
location on both the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean means that
the region experiences unique maritime weather patterns, characterized by heavy
snowfalls, frequent fog patches and temperatures that can change very drastically
in a short amount of time.
Cape Breton's location also
means it is on the warpath for many tropical storms, leading to potentially
torrential downpours in the fall and sometimes even hurricane-force winds.
The typical weather pattern
in Cape Breton includes cool, snowy winters (especially in the highlands region);
mild, wet springs; warm, breezy summers; and wet, blustery autumns.
TRANSPORTATION
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A
Cheticamp Lighthouse 4 |
Because of its proximity
to Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island is easily accessible via boat,
automobile, airplane, motorcoach,
foot, bicycle and more. Highway 104 will take drivers across the Canso Causeway
onto the Island into the community of Port Hawkesbury, from which they can easily
reach the rest of the Island. Sydney has a small
airport, a small motor coach station and a large port that also acts
as a ferry terminal for ships coming from Newfoundland, as well as cruise ships
from around the world.
Because much of the Island
is rural, visitors should have their own means of transportation, whether it
be via car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc., because taxi service is limited, and
the public
transit system only operates in the Sydney and Glace Bay regions.
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
The Alexander
Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada is located at Benin Breagh,
Bell's legendary summer home, and commemorates his life's work, which saw the
invention of numerous important inventions, many of which the people of today
could not live without, including the telephone and the hearing aid. Bell was
also a pioneer in the aviation industry and this is the place where he first
flew the Silver Dart, his well-known aircraft. The historic site has
a number of displays and exhibits that aim to inspire the inventor in visitors
of all ages. Interactive workshops, games, videos, extensive photograph collections
and recreated scenes all contribute to the learning experience at the estate.
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| The
Fortress of Louisbourg 5 |
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The Fortress of Louisbourg
is an authentically re-created French town that dates back to the 1700s. Visitors
can take a stroll through this working town, where women cook over an open hearth
and men pound the metal in the blacksmith shop before heading to the tavern
for a pint of ale. After being transported back in time, visitors can enjoy
authentic meals in the town restaurants, they can quiz the 'residents' (staff)
on their working and living conditions and they can learn about the rich and
tumultuous history of French settlers in Nova Scotia.
Diverse, rugged and naturally
beautiful, the Cape Breton Highlands National Park has an abundance of wildlife
and spectacular coastal scenery in a setting that is well-suited to a variety
of activities, such as hiking, camping, fishing, sightseeing and even skiing.
The park takes up 20% of the land space in northern Cape Breton and is known
for steep cliffs and canyons which offer truly amazing views of both the ocean
and the surrounding wilderness.
Finally, the Cape
Breton Miner's Museum offers visitors a chance to learn about the industry
that shaped present-day Cape Breton through a series of displays and exhibits
that are located within a replicated miner's village. For a truly hands-on experience,
visitors can take a tour of an actual mine, the Oceans Deep Colliery, while
being guided by retired miners. Those who stop by during the summer months may
even get to take in a concert by the Men
of the Deeps, a celebrated choir made up of coal miners.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Christian Ruel; c/o
Mirrorlock Photography; Cape Breton's Cabot Trail; Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Christian Ruel; c/o
Mirrorlock Photography; A Waterfall in the Cape Breton Highlands National
Park; Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Christian Ruel; c/o
Mirrorlock Photography; The Beach at Cheticamp; Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Christian Ruel; c/o
Mirrorlock Photography; A Cheticamp Lighthouse; Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Tourism Nova Scotia;
The Fortress of Louisbourg; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
