Harbour Description
The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto. It runs in a northwest-southeast direction.
Based on average vessel speeds, the harbour is strategically located approximately one hour's sailing time north of the Great Circle Route between the Eastern Seaboard and Europe. As such, it is the first inbound and last outbound port of call in eastern North America with transcontinental rail connections.
The harbour is largely formed by a drowned glacial valley which succumbed to sea level rise since glaciation. The Sackville River now empties into the upper end of the harbour in Bedford Basin, however its original river bed has been charted by the Canadian Hydrographic Service throughout the length of the harbour and beyond.
The harbour includes the following geographic areas:
- Northwest Arm Another drowned river valley now largely used by pleasure boats.
- The Narrows A constricted passage to Bedford Basin.
- Bedford Basin A sheltered bay and the largest part of the harbour.
Read more about this topic: Halifax Harbour
Famous quotes containing the words harbour and/or description:
“Patience, the beggar’s virtue, Shall find no harbour here.”
—Philip Massinger (1583–1640)
“As they are not seen on their way down the streams, it is thought by fishermen that they never return, but waste away and die, clinging to rocks and stumps of trees for an indefinite period; a tragic feature in the scenery of the river bottoms worthy to be remembered with Shakespeare’s description of the sea-floor.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)