Visitors look for fossils on the rocky shore at Joggins.

PHOTO: JOGGINS FOSSIL INSTITUTE

In our March/April 2009 issue, Legion Magazine published a story on Nova Scotia’s Joggins Fossil Cliffs. Listed below are just some of the other key attractions relating to coastal geology in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We present this information with the idea that it might come in handy when planning a trip to the East Coast. It is good to keep in mind though that some of these attractions are seasonal—opening in the spring and running through to the end of summer or fall. Happy travels.

Avalon Highlands: Located in Nova Scotia, the highland is defined by a 100-kilometre-long fault line that runs parallel to the Bay of Fundy. It is a mixture of rocks from the Pre-Cambrian and Devonian periods. www.fundyshoreecotour.ns.ca.

Basalt Headlands: The ancient shifting of continents caused volcanoes to spew and spill lava which eventually cooled to form two basalt ridges. One of these ridges is located along the northern edge of the Minas Basin. The second is between Cape Blomidon and Digby, N.S. www.fundyshoreecotour.ns.ca.

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park: Combine towering cliffs, 18 kilometres of coastline, ravines and old growth forest and you’ve found Cape Chignecto Provincial Park along the Bay of Fundy. Deemed an ideal place to observe the powerful Fundy tides, it features hiking trails as well as rare plant life. www.capechignecto.net/overview/index.htm.

Fundy Geological Museum: Peering into Earth’s distant past is made easier with a visit to this museum located Parrsboro, N.S.  Visitors can learn about dinosaurs and how the Fundy tides revealed a wide variety of mineral treasures. www.bayoffundy.com.

Fundy National Park: Visiting this park located at Alma, N.B., helps explain the history and power behind shifting continents. It features the colourful sandstone rocks around Owls Head as well as the volcanic rocks at Point Wolfe. www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nb/fundy/natcul/geolog_E.asp#01.

Grand Manan Island: Situated in the Bay of Fundy south of Blacks Harbour, N.B., and served year-round by a vehicle ferry, the island is, among other things, known for its basalt columns as well as other geological formations. www.grandmanannb.com/geology.htm.

Hopewell Rocks Ocean Tidal Exploration Site: Known for its famous sea stacks, this very famous attraction is located along the New Brunswick Bay of Fundy coast. It features sandstone formations—known as “flowerpot rocks”—topped with trees.  www.thehopewellrocks.ca.

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