Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Appalachian Mountains. Mixed into this mélange are the many different pieces of smal-
ler land masses trapped between the colliding continents.
When North America and Africa went their separate ways 180 million years ago, they
each left part of their coastline behind. This may be best observed in Newfoundland, for
its western third is a remnant of the ancestral North American coastline, its middle third
is a slice of ancient seafloor and its eastern third once belonged to northern Africa.
But geology never stops at the simple story, and for the traveler who's enthusiastic
about the subject, this region never runs out of surprises. Even if you don't study rocks or
get excited by fossils, you cannot ignore the stunning outcroppings and rock types visible
at nearly every stage of your journey. There are, for example, sea stacks, drowned coast-
lines, glacial grooves and erratics everywhere - what more could you ask for?
NATIONAL & PROVINCIAL PARKS
Atlantic Canada has taken its park systems seriously and many important sites are
protected within both national and provincial parks. Nova Scotia alone has more
than 120 parks, but even Newfoundland and Labrador, which are so sparsely
settled as to be parks in their own right, have a total of 34 parks.
Not all parks are set up for camping, but they are all worthy of a visit. In a few
parks it is possible to plan extended hiking and camping trips, but all of them offer
splendid opportunities for activities ranging from picnicking to beachcombing to
kayaking and cycling. Those that are open in the winter are favored by cross-coun-
try skiers and snowshoers .
Critters of the Great North
Whether you come for a glimpse of caribou, whales or moose, Atlantic Canada's wildlife
can be elusive but it is plentiful. Many people travel to the region to see the incredible
numbers of seabirds and whales that can be spotted from coastal bluffs or on whale-
watch trips, and these sightings are nearly guaranteed. Polar Bears, however quintessen-
tially Canadian they may be, are only present in the far north of this region.
The plants and animals of Atlantic Canada are even more amazing when you realize
that the entire region was completely buried in ice only 20,000 years ago and was not ac-
cessible for life until about 10,000 years ago. Where all these critters came from and how
they got here so quickly is anybody's guess!
ATLANTIC CANADA'S TOP NATURAL AREAS
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