Annapolis River

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The Annapolis River is a Canadian river located in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley.

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[edit] Geography

Measuring over 80 km in length, the river flows southwest through the western part of the valley from its source in Caribou Bog near the village of Aylesford in western Kings County, to its mouth at Port Royal where it empties into the Annapolis Basin. The river's watershed drains an area of approximately 2000 km² and has an annual discharge rate of 1,000,000,000 m³. The eastern part of the Annapolis Valley is drained by the Cornwallis River, also rising in the Caribou Bog, which has been dated to 10,000 years old.

The river flows through some of the most productive agricultural land in the province. The comparatively mild micro-climate produced by the valley's North and South mountain ranges, as well as its proximity to the waters of the Bay of Fundy make the region ideal for fruit crops such as apples.

[edit] History

The Annapolis River's importance in history is evident through its use as a transportation corridor in early Acadia after Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Monts established the Habitation at Port-Royal on the north bank of the river's mouth in 1605.

A British attack in 1710 saw this part of Acadia fall from French hands. An existing Acadian settlement at the mouth of Allains Creek, 10 km upriver from Port Royal, was renamed Annapolis Royal, in honour of the reigning monarch, Queen Anne. The river was also given the name Annapolis at this time.

After France relinquished the part of Acadia which is now peninsular Nova Scotia to Britain in 1713, Annapolis Royal became the capital of the British colony of Nova Scotia until 1749; Fort Anne was established at the mouth of Allains Creek where it drains into the river to protect the community from attack.

Throughout the 18th to the 20th century the river was heavily used as a transportation corridor, particularly during the age of sail when sailing ships would sail as far upriver as Bridgetown (the tidehead, and head of navigation); Bridgetown being home to a thriving shipbuilding industry. A ferry service once crossed the river at Annapolis Royal to Granville Ferry on the north bank; it was succeeded by a bridge in the early 20th century. Today, the title of Dauphin Herald Extraordinary at the Canadian Heraldic Authority is derived from the ancient name of the river.

In 1984, Nova Scotia Power opened the Annapolis Royal Generating Station, which operates as a tidal power plant. A rock-filled dam now blocks the river between Annapolsi Royal and Granville Ferry, carrying Highway 1 and the stretch of river between Annapolis Royal and Bridgetown is now used as a reservoir.

[edit] Communities

Communities located along the Annapolis River, from northeast to southwest, include:

[edit] External links

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