Belleisle Bay
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Belleisle Bay is a fjord-like branch of the St. John River in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.
[edit] Geography
The bay is oriented northeast from the river, which it joins at the head of Long Reach, just south of the village of Evandale. Belleisle Bay forms part of the northern boundary of southern New Brunswick's "Kingston Peninsula", with the southern boundary being the Kennebecasis River.
Belleisle Bay has little current as it has few freshwater inlets and acts more-or-less as a lake in a glacial valley, framed by the low rolling hills of the St. Croix Highlands of the Appalachian range. Although the bay is mostly freshwater, the entire lower St. John River system has a limited saltwater tidal influence resulting from the Reversing Falls. Its waters freeze completely in the winter months.
Measuring approximately 18 kilometers long by 1 kilometer wide, Belleisle Bay has several small freshwater streams, namely Kingston Creek near the mouth of the bay, and Belleisle Creek at the head of the bay. A small wetland also exists at the head of the bay. The bay hosts a single island, Ghost Island, located between Elmhurst and Lower Kars.
The bay is located entirely within Kings County. A year round cable ferry that crosses the bay between Earle Wharf and Long Point.
[edit] Communities
A popular recreational boating destination on the St. John River system, Belleisle Bay's shorelines are dotted with numerous cottages and several small rural communities, including the villages of Hatfield Point and Springfield. The Belleisle Marina is located near the village of Kingston and there are anchorages for pleasure craft at the mouth of Kingston Creek and in Jenkins Cove, further up the bay.
Local services are found in several communities, including several bed and breakfast operations near Kingston Creek. Hatfield Point hosts a small post office, gas station, restaurant, and regional elementary and high schools. The local area is served by the Belleisle Valley Volunteer Firefighters.
The bay hosts two summer camps; a Girl Guides camp, and Camp Glenburn, a YMCA/YWCA facility.
