Annapolis River
Encyclopedia
The Annapolis River is a Canadian
river located in Nova Scotia
's Annapolis Valley
.
and Berwick
in western Kings County
, to its mouth at Port Royal
where it empties into the Annapolis Basin
. The estuary portion of the Annapolis River runs from Bridgetown
to Port Royal
and experiences a tidal range of approximately 7.5 m (24.6 ft) between tides.
The river's watershed drains an area of approximately 2000 km² and has an annual discharge rate of 1,000,000,000 m³. The eastern part of the Annapolis Valley is drained by the Cornwallis River
, also rising in the Caribou Bog, which has been dated to 10,000 years old.
The river flows through some of the most productive agricultural land in the province. The comparatively mild micro-climate produced by the valley's North and South mountain ranges, as well as its proximity to the waters of the Bay of Fundy
make the region ideal for fruit crops such as apple
s.
The Annapolis River's importance in history is evident through its use as a transportation corridor in early Acadia
after Samuel de Champlain
and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Monts
established the Habitation at Port-Royal
on the north bank of the river's mouth in 1605. Champlain's map of 1609 showed the river as being named Rivière du Dauphin.
A British attack in 1710 saw this part of Acadia fall from French hands. An Acadian settlement at the mouth of Allains Creek, ten kilometres upriver from Port Royal, was renamed Annapolis Royal
, in honour of the reigning monarch, Queen Anne
. The river was also given the name Annapolis at this time.
After France relinquished the part of Acadia which is now peninsular Nova Scotia to Britain in 1713, Annapolis Royal became the capital of the British colony of Nova Scotia until 1749; Fort Anne
was established at the mouth of Allains Creek where it drains into the river to protect the community from attack.
Throughout the 18th to the 20th century the river was heavily used as a transportation corridor, particularly during the age of sail when sailing ships would sail as far upriver as Bridgetown
(the tidehead, and head of navigation); Bridgetown being home to a thriving shipbuilding industry. A ferry service once crossed the river at Annapolis Royal to Granville Ferry
on the north bank; it was succeeded by a bridge in the early 20th century.
In 1984, Nova Scotia Power
opened the Annapolis Royal Generating Station
, which operates as a tidal power plant. A rock-filled dam now blocks the river between Annapolis Royal and Granville Ferry, carrying Trunk 1 and the stretch of river between Annapolis Royal and Bridgetown is now used as a reservoir.
In the late 1980s, an application to designate the Annapolis River as a Canada federal Heritage River was rejected because of the high levels of pollution in the river from residential and agricultural development. A variety of monitoring and clean-up projects have followed in the wake of the rejection and led to the creation of the Clean Annapolis River Project (CARP).
at the Canadian Heraldic Authority
is derived from the ancient name of the river.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
river located in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
's Annapolis Valley
Annapolis Valley
The Annapolis Valley is a valley and region in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located in the western part of the Nova Scotia peninsula, formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy.-Geography:...
.
Geography
Measuring 120 kilometres in length, the river flows southwest through the western part of the valley from its source in Caribou Bog (50 m (164 ft) above sea level) near the villages of AylesfordAylesford, Nova Scotia
Aylesford is a farming community in the county of Kings in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is nestled between the North and South Mountains and located roughly 15 minutes from CFB Greenwood and 10 minutes from Berwick...
and Berwick
Berwick, Nova Scotia
Berwick is a Canadian town in Kings County, Nova Scotia. The town is located in the eastern part of the Annapolis Valley on the Cornwallis River. The town site stretches south from the river and Exit 15 of Highway 101 to Highway 1...
in western Kings County
Kings County, Nova Scotia
Kings County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.Kings County is located in central Nova Scotia on the shore of the Bay of Fundy with its northeastern part also forming the western shore of the Minas Basin....
, to its mouth at Port Royal
Port Royal, Nova Scotia
Port Royal was the capital of Acadia from 1605 to 1710 and is now a town called Annapolis Royal in the western part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Initially Port Royal was located on the north shore of the Annapolis Basin, Nova Scotia, at the site of the present reconstruction of the...
where it empties into the Annapolis Basin
Annapolis Basin
The Annapolis Basin is a sub-basin of the Bay of Fundy, located on the southwestern shores of the bay, along the northwestern shore of Nova Scotia and at the western end of the Annapolis Valley....
. The estuary portion of the Annapolis River runs from Bridgetown
Bridgetown, Nova Scotia
Bridgetown is a Canadian town in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the Annapolis River at the head of the tide, the area saw Mi'kmaq settlements in the area, followed by Acadian settlers from Port-Royal and then British-sponsored settlements by the late 18th century.There were at least ten...
to Port Royal
Port Royal, Nova Scotia
Port Royal was the capital of Acadia from 1605 to 1710 and is now a town called Annapolis Royal in the western part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Initially Port Royal was located on the north shore of the Annapolis Basin, Nova Scotia, at the site of the present reconstruction of the...
and experiences a tidal range of approximately 7.5 m (24.6 ft) between tides.
The river's watershed drains an area of approximately 2000 km² and has an annual discharge rate of 1,000,000,000 m³. The eastern part of the Annapolis Valley is drained by the Cornwallis River
Cornwallis River
The Cornwallis River is a river in Nova Scotia, Canada.It has a meander length of approximately 48 km from its source on the North Mountain near Berwick to its mouth near Wolfville on the Minas Basin. The lower portion of the river is tidal and there are extensive tidal marshes in the lower...
, also rising in the Caribou Bog, which has been dated to 10,000 years old.
The river flows through some of the most productive agricultural land in the province. The comparatively mild micro-climate produced by the valley's North and South mountain ranges, as well as its proximity to the waters of the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
make the region ideal for fruit crops such as apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s.
History
Acadia
Acadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire of New France, in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. At the end of the 16th century, France claimed territory stretching as far south as...
after Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Monts
Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Monts
Pierre Du Gua de Monts, was a French merchant, explorer and colonizer. A Protestant, he was born in Royan, France and had a great influence over the first two decades of the 17th century...
established the Habitation at Port-Royal
Habitation at Port-Royal
The Habitation at Port-Royal was the first successful French settlement of New France in North America, and is presently known as Port-Royal National Historic Site, a National Historic Site located on the northern side of the Annapolis Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada...
on the north bank of the river's mouth in 1605. Champlain's map of 1609 showed the river as being named Rivière du Dauphin.
A British attack in 1710 saw this part of Acadia fall from French hands. An Acadian settlement at the mouth of Allains Creek, ten kilometres upriver from Port Royal, was renamed Annapolis Royal
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...
, in honour of the reigning monarch, Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
. The river was also given the name Annapolis at this time.
After France relinquished the part of Acadia which is now peninsular Nova Scotia to Britain in 1713, Annapolis Royal became the capital of the British colony of Nova Scotia until 1749; Fort Anne
Fort Anne
For a similarly named fort in New York City see: Fort AmsterdamFort Anne is a typical star fort built to protect the harbour of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. The fort repelled all French attacks during the early stages of King George's War....
was established at the mouth of Allains Creek where it drains into the river to protect the community from attack.
Throughout the 18th to the 20th century the river was heavily used as a transportation corridor, particularly during the age of sail when sailing ships would sail as far upriver as Bridgetown
Bridgetown, Nova Scotia
Bridgetown is a Canadian town in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the Annapolis River at the head of the tide, the area saw Mi'kmaq settlements in the area, followed by Acadian settlers from Port-Royal and then British-sponsored settlements by the late 18th century.There were at least ten...
(the tidehead, and head of navigation); Bridgetown being home to a thriving shipbuilding industry. A ferry service once crossed the river at Annapolis Royal to Granville Ferry
Granville Ferry, Nova Scotia
Granville Ferry is a village in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County .-References:*...
on the north bank; it was succeeded by a bridge in the early 20th century.
In 1984, Nova Scotia Power
Nova Scotia Power
Nova Scotia Power Inc. is a power generating and delivery company in Nova Scotia. It is privately owned by Emera and regulated by the provincial government via the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board .-History:...
opened the Annapolis Royal Generating Station
Annapolis Royal Generating Station
The Annapolis Royal Generating Station is a 20 MW tidal power station located on the Annapolis River immediately upstream from the town of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the only tidal generating station in North America. The generating station harnesses the tidal difference...
, which operates as a tidal power plant. A rock-filled dam now blocks the river between Annapolis Royal and Granville Ferry, carrying Trunk 1 and the stretch of river between Annapolis Royal and Bridgetown is now used as a reservoir.
In the late 1980s, an application to designate the Annapolis River as a Canada federal Heritage River was rejected because of the high levels of pollution in the river from residential and agricultural development. A variety of monitoring and clean-up projects have followed in the wake of the rejection and led to the creation of the Clean Annapolis River Project (CARP).
Popular culture
The title of Dauphin Herald ExtraordinaryDauphin Herald Extraordinary
Dauphin Herald of Arms Extraordinary is the title of one of the officers of arms at the Canadian Heraldic Authority in Ottawa. Herald Extraordinary is an honorary position reserved for people who have made notable contributions to Canadian heraldry...
at the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
is derived from the ancient name of the river.
Communities
Communities located along the Annapolis River, from northeast to southwest, include:- Aylesford EastAylesford East, Nova ScotiaAylesford East, Nova Scotia is a community in Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is near the Annapolis River and is served by Nova Scotia Trunk 1....
- AylesfordAylesford, Nova ScotiaAylesford is a farming community in the county of Kings in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is nestled between the North and South Mountains and located roughly 15 minutes from CFB Greenwood and 10 minutes from Berwick...
- AuburnAuburn, Nova ScotiaAuburn is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Kings County, situated west of Aylesford. The second oldest Anglican church in Nova Scotia is situated there, consecrated in 1790 by Bishop Inglis. Modelled on Christopher Wren's London church designs, St. Marys Anglican...
- Green Acres
- KingstonKingston, Nova ScotiaKingston is a village in Kings County on the north bank of the Annapolis River in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. As of 2001, the population was 3,009....
- Greenwood
- South Farmington
- WilmotWilmot, Nova ScotiaWilmot is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County.-References:*...
- Nictaux East
- MiddletonMiddleton, Nova ScotiaMiddleton is a Canadian town in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.It is situated on the north bank of the Annapolis River. Incorporated in 1909, it is located near the centre of the Annapolis Valley, from which it gets its nickname, "The Heart of the Valley".-Economy:Founded by New England Planters,...
- NictauxNictaux, Nova ScotiaNictaux is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County .-References:*...
- Lower Middleton
- Nictaux West
- BricktonBrickton, Nova ScotiaBrickton is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County.-References:*...
- North Williamston
- LawrencetownLawrencetown, Annapolis County, Nova ScotiaLawrencetown is a village within Annapolis County in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. As of 2006, the population was 668. Every year at the Lawrencetown Exhibition Grounds, the Annapolis Valley Exhibition is held, which is typically a very large gathering...
- West Lawrencetown
- ParadiseParadise, Nova ScotiaParadise is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County.-References:*...
- West ParadiseWest Paradise, Nova ScotiaWest Paradise is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County .-References:*...
- BridgetownBridgetown, Nova ScotiaBridgetown is a Canadian town in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the Annapolis River at the head of the tide, the area saw Mi'kmaq settlements in the area, followed by Acadian settlers from Port-Royal and then British-sponsored settlements by the late 18th century.There were at least ten...
- Carleton CornerCarleton Corner, Nova ScotiaCarleton Corner is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County . This village is the site of the Battle of Bloody Creek and the Battle of Bloody Creek .-References:*...
- CentreleaCentrelea, Nova ScotiaCentrelea is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County .-References:*...
- Upper GranvilleUpper Granville, Nova ScotiaUpper Granville is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County.Liberal leader Stephen McNeil lives in Upper Granville.Historic Birthplace of Joseph Broussard dit beausoleil-References:*...
- Tuppersville
- BelleisleBelleisle, Nova ScotiaBelleisle is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County.-References:*...
- Round HillRound Hill, Nova ScotiaRound Hill is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County .John Whitman and his son Elnathan Whitman and grand-son George Whitman were farmers and political figures in Nova Scotia born at Rosette .-References:*...
- Granville CentreGranville Centre, Nova ScotiaGranville Centre is a Canadian rural community located in Annapolis County along the Annapolis River in western Nova Scotia....
- MoschelleMoschelle, Nova ScotiaMoschelle is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County .-References:*...
- LequilleLequille, Nova ScotiaLequille is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County .-References:**...
- Annapolis RoyalAnnapolis Royal, Nova ScotiaAnnapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...
- Granville FerryGranville Ferry, Nova ScotiaGranville Ferry is a village in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County .-References:*...
- Allains Creek
- Granville Beach
- Upper ClementsUpper Clements, Nova ScotiaUpper Clements is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Annapolis County .-Points of Interest:* Upper Clements Park- An amusement park with a wooden roller coaster , a haunted house, a pool, 2 mini golf courses, ziplining, bumper boats, pedal boats, a train to the other...
- Port RoyalPort Royal, Nova ScotiaPort Royal was the capital of Acadia from 1605 to 1710 and is now a town called Annapolis Royal in the western part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Initially Port Royal was located on the north shore of the Annapolis Basin, Nova Scotia, at the site of the present reconstruction of the...