Geography of New Brunswick
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Brunswick (French: Nouveau-Brunswick) is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces, and the only officially bilingual province (French and English) in the country. Its capital is Fredericton.
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[edit] Physical geography
New Brunswick is bounded on the north by Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula and Chaleur Bay and on the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and Northumberland Strait. To the south, the narrow Isthmus of Chignecto connects it to peninsular Nova Scotia, most of which is separated from the mainland by the Bay of Fundy. On its west, the province borders the American state of Maine. The boundary with the U.S. was settled during the "Aroostook War" of 1838-39 which was largely instigated by businessman and political activist John Baker. New Brunswick is one of two provinces (the other being Alberta) to border a single U.S. state.
The total land and water area of the province is 72,908 square kilometres. About 80% of the province is forested, with the other 20% consisting of agricultural land and urban areas. The major urban centres lie in the south of the province. The bulk of the arable land is found in the Upper St. John River Valley, with lesser amounts of farmland found in the southeast of the province.
While New Brunswick is one of Canada's Maritime Provinces, it differs from its neighbours both ethnoculturally and physiographically. Both Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are either wholly or nearly surrounded by water and the ocean therefore tends to define their climate, economy and culture. New Brunswick, on the other hand, although having a significant seacoast, is sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean proper and has a large interior which is removed from oceanic effects. New Brunswick therefore tends to be defined by its rivers rather than its seacoast.
The major river systems in the province include the St. John River, Petitcodiac River, Miramichi River, St. Croix River and the Restigouche River. The St. John River is thought to be the second longest river on the North American eastern seaboard between the St. Lawrence River and the Mississippi River.
New Brunswick lies entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range, a chain of ancient, eroded mountains which have created river valleys and low, gently rolling hills throughout large parts of the province. The eastern and central part of the province consists of the New Brunswick Lowland, whereas the Caledonia Highlands and St. Croix Highlands extend along the Bay of Fundy coast, reaching elevations of 300 metres. The northwestern part of the province is comprised of the remote and more rugged Miramichi Highlands, Chaleur Uplands, and the Notre Dame Mountains with a maximum elevation at Mount Carleton of 820 metres.
[edit] Rivers of New Brunswick
The majority of western New Brunswick is drained by the Saint John River system. The river, which rises in northern Maine, empties into the Bay of Fundy in Saint John. Notable tributaries within the province include the Madawaska River, Tobique River, Meduxnekeag River, Nashwaak River, Oromocto River, and Kennebecasis River. Other water bodies within the Saint John River system are Grand Lake (which itself is fed by the Salmon River), Washademoak Lake (fed by the Canaan River), and Belleisle Bay. The high tides of the Bay of Fundy often cause the Saint John River to flow upstream, an effect most pronounced at the Reversing Falls in Saint John.
The Petitcodiac River empties into Chignecto Bay at the head of the Bay of Fundy. Like the Saint John River, the Bay of Fundy tides cause another upstream phenomenon, known as a tidal bore. The construction of a causeway on the river at Moncton, approximately 50 kilometres upstream, has lessened the tidal bore's effect and changed the river's ecosystem.
Other rivers which empty into the Bay of Fundy include the St. Croix River, Digdeguash River, Magaguadavic River, Musquash River and Big Salmon River.
The system of the Miramichi River, which flows into Miramichi Bay at the city of Miramichi, drains a large portion of central New Brunswick. There are two main branches, the Southwest Miramichi River and Northwest Miramichi River, with several smaller tributaries such as the Dungarvon River, Renous River, Bartholomew River and Cains River. The Miramichi River system is noted for its salmon pools.
The Restigouche River system drains a large portion of northwestern and north-central New Brunswick. The river flows into the Bay of Chaleur at its head near Dalhousie, and like the Miramichi, is renowned for its salmon fishing. Notable tributaries are the Kedgwick River, Patapedia River, and Upsalquitch River.
The Nepisiguit River is another notable river feeding the Bay of Chaleur. Smaller rivers into the bay include the Caraquet River, Tetagouche River and Jacquet River.
The Northumberland Strait is fed by the Kouchibouguac, Kouchibouguacis, Richibucto, Bouctouche, Cocagne and Shediac Rivers; while the Gulf of St. Lawrence is fed by the Tabusintac, Big Tracadie and Pokemouche Rivers.
[edit] Islands of New Brunswick
There are two major island groups in New Brunswick:
The Fundy Isles are located at the entrance to the Bay of Fundy. The three main Fundy Isles are Campobello, Deer, and Grand Manan. White Head, off the southeast coast of Grand Manan, is the only other inhabited island in the Bay of Fundy. Machias Seal Island, to the west, is claimed by both Canada and the United States. Partridge Island, at the entrance to Saint John Harbour, is of historical importance as the site of a quarantine station for new immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Another group of islands is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the coast of the Acadian Peninsula in the northeastern corner of the province. The two largest islands are Lamèque Island and Miscou Island; with another inhabited island, Pokesudie, located to the west on the other side of Shippagan Bay.
Few large islands are located in the Northumberland Strait or Bay of Chaleur.
Several inland islands are located in the Saint John River, but none are currently settled. Many were flooded by the construction of the Mactaquac Dam in the 1960s. Two islands in the Kennebecasis River (Kennebecasis Island and Darlings Island) are permanently settled.
[edit] Lakes of New Brunswick
[edit] Cities and municipalities
New Brunswick has eight officially incorporated cities, listed here in descending order by population:
The major urban areas of the province are Metropolitan Saint John (Saint John, Quispamsis, Rothesay) and Greater Moncton (Moncton, Riverview, Dieppe). Moncton being the largest Metro at 126,424 and Saint John coming in second at 122,389. Greater Fredericton (the provincial capital) has a census agglomeration population of 85,688. The population of New Brunswick is majority English-speaking but with a substantial (35%) French-speaking minority called Acadians (from "Acadia", the former name of this region during the French colonial period). Most Acadians migrated to the area from the Vienne region of France. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada.
10 largest municipalities by population
| Municipality | 2006 | 2001 | 1996 | 1991 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint John | 68 043 | 69 661 | 72 494 | 74 969 | |
| Moncton | 64 128 | 61 046 | 59 313 | 56 823 | |
| Fredericton | 50 535 | 47 560 | 46 507 | 46 466 | |
| Dieppe | 18 565 | 14 951 | 12 497 | 10 650 | |
| Miramichi | 18 129 | 18 508 | 19 241 | 21 165 | |
| Riverview | 17 832 | 17 010 | 16 653 | 16 270 | |
| Edmundston | 16 643 | 17 373* | 11,033 | 10,835 | |
| Quispamsis | 15 239 | 13 757 | 13 579 | ||
| Bathurst | 12 714 | 12 924 | 13 815 | 14 409 | |
| Rothesay | 11 637 | 11 505 | 11 470 | N/A |
largest metropolitans by population
| Metropolitan | 2006 | 2001 | 1996 | 1991 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moncton | 126 424 | 118 678 | 113 491 | 107 436 |
| Saint John | 122 389 | 122 678 | 125 705 | 125 838 |
| Fredericton | 85 688 | 81,346 | 78,950 | 74,718 |
| Bathurst | 31 424 | 32 523* | 25 415 | 25 734 |
| Miramichi | 24 737 | 25 274 | N/A | N/A |
| Edmundston | 21 442 | 22 173 | 22 624 | 22 205 |
| Campbellton | 17 888 | 18 820 | 16 867 | 17 183 |
- asterisk denotes boundry change
Saint John is a port city, with heavy industry in the form of pulp and paper, oil refineries, and drydocks, all owned by the family of the late K.C. Irving. The Irving family also controls much of the province's economy and three of its four daily English language newspapers. Saint John is conventionally written out in full, to distinguish it from St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, with which it is commonly confused by those outside of the Atlantic Provinces.
Moncton is the largest Metropolitan in New Brunswick, it is the fastest growing city east of Toronto, and is in the top 10 in Canada. Moncton is principally a transportation, distribution, commercial and retail centre. Moncton has a sizeable francophone Acadian minority (35%) and is therefore considered by the Acadians to be their unofficial "capital". The majority of Moncton's recent growth is due to rural depopulation of the north shore of the province.
Fredericton, in addition to being the capital of the province, is a genteel university town, and home to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Theatre New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, and other amenities, including Christ Church Cathedral, whose foundation is the oldest in Canada or the United States. Fredericton is nicknamed the "City of Stately Elms". It has boasted of the largest stand of elms outside of Central Park since Dutch Elm Disease devastated this species in the early twentieth century.
[edit] Gallery
 Dickson Falls, Fundy National Park |
 Longest covered bridge in the world, in winter, Hartland |
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 Boardwalk across the dunes, Buctouche |
 Imperial Theatre, Saint John |
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 Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton |
[edit] Parks
[edit] National parks
New Brunswick has two national parks.
| Park | Location | Size | Activities | Campsites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundy National Park | Alma | 207 km² | extensive hiking trails (1 is 100 kms long), boardwalk, mountain biking, golfing, fishing, birdwatching, swimming, cross-country skiing, skating... | 3 campgrounds, 1 group campgrounds, backcountry camping |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | Richibucto | 238 km² | swimming, cycling, canoeing... | campgrounds, group camping, backcountry camping |
[edit] Provincial parks
There are eleven provincial parks.
| Park | Location | Size | Activities | Campsites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Provincial Park | Grand Manan | 139-ha. | hiking trails, bird watching | 100 |
| de la République Provincial Park | Edmunston | 44-ha. | botanical garden, trails, tennis & volleyball, playground, horseshoe pits, boat ramp, picnic sites, antique automobile museum, heated pool | 150 |
| Herring Cove Provincial Park | Campobello Island | 425-ha. | wildlife (bald eagles, ospreys, beavers), various hiking trails, picnic sites, kitchen shelters, playgrounds, 9-hole golf course, pro shop, beach | 88 |
| Mactaquac Provincial Park | Mactaquac | 525-ha. | 18-hole championship golf course, arious hiking trails (1 wheelchair accessible), beach, windsurfing, canoeing, fishing, picnic sites | 300+ |
| Mount Carleton Provincial Park | Saint-Quentin | 17,000-ha. | Mount Carleton, 62 km long hiking ridge, biking trails, canoeing (3 lakes & 2 rivers) | |
| Murray Beach Provincial Park | Murray Corner | 29-ha. | Northumberland Strait beach | 111 |
| New River Beach Provincial Park | Pocologan | 89-ha. | Bay of Fundy beach, nature trail | 100 |
| Oak Bay Provincial Park | St. Stephen | camp at the mouth of the St. Croix River | 115 | |
| Parlee Beach Provincial Park | Shediac | 33-ha. | Northumberland Strait beach | 165 |
| Sugarloaf Provincial Park | Atholville | 1136-ha. | mountain hiking trails, biking trails, alpine slide | 76 |
| Val Comeau Provincial Park | Tracadie-Sheila | campsite is 70 m from the beach |
[edit] Municipal parks
| Park | Location | Size | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beech Hill Park | Sackville | walking, cross-country skiing | |
| Blackville Municipall Park | Blackville | trails, playground, barbecue pits | |
| Carleton Park | Fredericton | trails, picnic tables, boat launch | |
| Centennial Park | Moncton | beach, hiking, horseshoe pits, wheelchair-accessible playground, water park, lawn bowling, cross-country skiing, outdoor skating | |
| Irishtown Nature Park | Moncton | 890-ha | kayaking, canoeing, hiking, wetlands , cross-country skiing |
| Irving Nature Park | Saint John | 243-ha | hiking along the Bay of Fundy, free guided tours, birdwatching, lookout tower |
| Killarney Lake Park | Fredericton | swimming, walking trails | |
| Mapleton Park | Moncton | 121-ha | birdwatching, hiking trails, cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating |
| Miramichi Skate Park | Miramichi | BMX, skateboarding and in-line skate park | |
| Morrissey Rock Park and Scenic Lookout | Tide Head | picnicking over the Restigouche River | |
| Odell Park and Odell Arboretum | Fredericton | 175-ha. | trails, barbecue pits, duck pond, outdoor skating, cross-country skiing |
| Parc du Vieux Moulin | Nigadoo | swimming | |
| Petit Témis Interprovincial Linear Park | Edmunston | 130-km long | cycling path along the Madawaska River and Lake Témiscouata, snowmobling |
| Richelieu Municipal Park | Neguac | ||
| Ritchie Wharf Park | Miramichi | shipbuilding-themed park, dock & boat launch | |
| Riverfront Park | Moncton | paved and dirt paths for wheelchairs, bicycles, in-line skates, walking and running, part of Trans Canada Trail | |
| Rockwood Park | Saint John | 890-ha. | 10 freshwater lakes, hiking trails, campsite, zoo, golf club |
| Rockwood Park Beach | Saint John | swimming, hiling, arboretum | |
| Sackville Waterfowl Park | Sackville | birdwatching, boardwalks and trails, Tantramar Marsh | |
| Sandy Point Park | Baie-Sainte-Anne | beach, campsite | |
| Sir Douglas Hazen Park | Oromocto | Fort Huges Military Blockhouse, marina | |
| Wilmot Park | Fredericton | 4.9-ha. | trails, lawn bowling, courts, playground |
[edit] International parks
Roosevelt Campobello International Park, on Campobello Island is operated jointly by Canada and the United States and preserves the family cottage of former United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Saint Croix Island International Historical Site; in the middle of the Saint Croix River, although actually located in the state of Maine and operated by the United States National Park Service, is a significant Canadian historical site and a Parks Canada interpretive centre is located on the Canadian shoreline opposite the island.
[edit] Heritage and historical sites
[edit] National
| Site | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Beaubears Island Shipbuilding and Boishébert | near Miramichi | nineteenth-century shipbuilding & Acadian refugee settlement, 1756-59 |
| Carleton Martello Tower | Saint John | fortification built to defend the city during War of 1812 |
| Christ Church Cathedral | Fredericton | gothic-revival architecture in this 150 year old Anglican cathedral |
| Fort Beauséjour | Aulac | remnants of 1751 French fort |
| Fort Gaspareaux | Port Elgin | military ruins and cemetery of 1751 French fort |
| Fredericton City Hall and Bicentennial Tapestries | Fredericton | oldest city hall still in use in the Maritime provinces with 27 tapestries depicting the history of the capital city |
| Free Meeting House | Moncton | built in 1821 |
| Historic Garrison District | Fredericton | York-Sunbury Museum in the former 1839 officer's quarters, guided tours, changing of the guard |
| Honourable Charles Connell House | Woodstock | built in 1840 |
| Loyalist House | Saint John | Loyalist period furnishings, circa. 1810-1833 Georgian house, tea with the mayor every Wednesday in July and August |
| McAdam Railway Station | McAdam | granite, 3-storey station built between 1900-1911 by the Canadian Pacific Railway |
| Monument Lefebvre | Memramcook | multi-function building, symbol of Acadian cultural revival |
| No.2 Engine House/Saint John Firefighters Museum | Saint John | 1840-1841 built neo-classical fire hall, exhibit of the Great Fire of 1877 |
| Partridge Island | Saint John | quarantine station during Irish immigration in the 19th Century, also military posts from 1700s through WWII, world's first steam-operated fog horn built in 1852 |
| Queens County Historical Society and Museum | Gagetown | birthplace of Sir Leonard Tilley, restored courthouse, Loyalist and Victorian furnishings, genealogical research centre |
| St. Andrews Blockhouse | St. Andrews | restored wooden blockhouse from War of 1812 |
| St. Andrews Historic District | St. Andrews | walking tour |
| Tilley House | Gagetown | built in 1786, birthplace of Sir Leonard Tilley in 1818 |
[edit] Provincial
| Site | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverbrook House | Miramichi | built in 1877, childhood home of Lord Beaverbrook |
| Bell Inn Provincial Historic Site | Dorchester | built in 1811, the oldest stone structure in the province |
| Bonar Law Historic Society | Rexton | birthplace of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andrew Bonar Law with a 19th century working farm |
| Cathedral of Immaculate Conception | Edmunston | mixture of Roman and Gothic styles, construction began in 1924, exterior of granite, can accommodate more than 1200 people |
| Chapelle de Beaumont | Memramcook | built for the Aboriginal people of Beamont Cape in 1842 |
| Charlotte County Archives, the Old Gaol and the Charlotte County Courthouse | St. Andrews | built in the 1800s, classical-revival style, oldest continuous use courthouse in Canada, the jail was built in 1832 |
| Doak Provincial Historic Site | Doaktown | built for the family of Robert Doak in 1825 |
| Fortin du Petit-Sault | Edmunston | built in 1841 during the boundary dispute between the US and England, re-built in 2000 |
| Hampton Gaol | Hampton | the jail originally built in Kingston, New Brunswick, it was taken down and rebuilt brick-by-brick in 1870 |
| Historic Garrison District | Fredericton | York-Sunbury Museum in the former 1839 officer's quarters, guided tours, changing of the guard |
| Keillor House | Dorchester | built of stone in 1813, Regency-style mansion |
| Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick | Fredericton | seat of government since 1842, library has more than 50,000 books |
| MacDonald Farm Provincial Historic Site | Bartibog | built in the 1820s, Georgian stone house |
| Maison Historique Pascal-Poirier Art Gallery and Museum | Shediac | built in 1825, Acadia's first senator is featured |
| Ministers Island Historic Site | St. Andrews | 50-room, sandstone mansion built in 1890 |
| Monument Notre-Dame de l'Assomption | Rogersville | Msgr. Marcel-François Richard, responsible for the 19th Acadian cultural revival |
| Old Carleton County Court House | Woodstock | built in 1833 and restored in 1966 |
| Old Victoria County Registry Office and Courthouse | Perth-Andover | built in 1902 |
| Old Victoria County Registry Office and Courthouse | Perth-Andover | built in 1902 |
| Partridge Island, New Brunswick | Saint John | quarantine station during Irish immigration in the 19th Century, also military posts from 1700s through WWII, world's first steam-operated fog horn built in 1852 |
| Queens County Court House | Gagetown | built in 1836 |
| Queens County Historical Society and Museum | Gagetown | birthplace of Sir Leonard Tilley, restored courthouse, Loyalist and Victorian furnishings, genealogical research centre |
| Saint-Henri de Barachois Church | Barachois | built in 1826, oldest standing wooden church in Acadia |
| Sheriff Andrews House Provincial Historic Site | St. Andrews | built approx. 1820 |
| St. Andrews Historic District | St. Andrews | |
| St. Michael's Museum and Genealogical Centre | Miramichi | built in 1846 |
[edit] See also
- Communities in New Brunswick
- Counties in New Brunswick
- Airports in New Brunswick
- Rivers in New Brunswick
- Schools in New Brunswick
[edit] External links
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| National | Geography of Canada • Canada's landforms |
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| Provinces | British Columbia • Alberta • Saskatchewan • Manitoba • Ontario • Quebec • New Brunswick • Nova Scotia • Prince Edward Island • Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| Territories | Yukon • Northwest Territories • Nunavut | |
| See also | Regions of Canada • Islands • Rivers • Lakes • Mountains • Canadian National Parks | |
