Cobequid Mountains

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The Cobequid Mountains, also known as the Cobequid Hills, is a low mountain range located in mainland Nova Scotia, stretching from Cape Chignecto, Cumberland County in the west to Pictou County in the east. Some consider the range to extend as far east as Antigonish County.

The range was formed 350 million years ago by a collision between what is now northern Africa with what is now northern Europe; this collision and splitting of these continental portions form the topography of present-day Nova Scotia. A remnant fault line from this event extends along the southern portion of the range, immediately north of the Minas Basin and Cobequid Bay east to Canso.

The Cobequid Mountains remain largely uninhabited (by humans), with the highest point being Nuttby Mountain (360 metres). Other high peaks include Higgins Mountain (355m) and Dalhousie Mountain (335m).

The range contains an abundance of freshwater lakes and some springs. These form headwaters that flow south via a number of small rivers and streams south into the Minas Basin and north into Northumberland Strait. Several escarpments have been formed from fault lines, resulting in a number of waterfalls on the southern mountain slopes.

Forests covering the Cobequid Mountains are mainly comprised of hardwood species sugar maple (also known locally as 'rock maple') and yellow birch on mountain slopes. Steep stream and river valleys are dominated by red spruce stands. The lower slopes consist of balsam fir, red spruce, black spruce, white spruce, paper birch, red maple and silver maple (also known locally as 'white maple').