Belleisle Bay
Encyclopedia
Belleisle Bay is a fjord
-like branch of the St. John River in the Canadian
province of New Brunswick
.
The bay is oriented northeast from the river, which it joins at the head of Long Reach, just south of the village of Evandale
. Belleisle Bay forms part of the northern boundary of southern New Brunswick's "Kingston Peninsula", with the southern boundary being the Kennebecasis River
.
Belleisle Bay has little current as it has few freshwater inlets and acts more-or-less as a lake in a glacial valley, framed by the low rolling hills of the St. Croix Highlands of the Appalachian
range. Although the bay is mostly freshwater, the entire lower St. John River system has a limited saltwater tidal influence resulting from the Reversing Falls
. Its waters freeze completely in the winter months.
Measuring approximately 18 kilometers long by 1 kilometer wide, Belleisle Bay has several small freshwater streams, namely Kingston Creek
near the mouth of the bay, and Belleisle Creek at the head of the bay. A small wetland
also exists at the head of the bay. The bay hosts a single island, Ghost Island, located between Elmhurst and Lower Kars.
The bay is located entirely within Kings County
. The Bellisle Bay Ferry, a year round cable ferry
, crosses the bay between Earle Wharf and Long Point.
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
-like branch of the St. John River in the Canadian
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...
province of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
.
Geography
Evandale, New Brunswick
Evandale is a community in Canada, in the province of New Brunswick. It is situated on the west bank of the Saint John River, and on New Brunswick Route 102.The Evandale Ferry, a cable ferry, carries Route 124 across the river from Kars on the east bank....
. Belleisle Bay forms part of the northern boundary of southern New Brunswick's "Kingston Peninsula", with the southern boundary being the Kennebecasis River
Kennebecasis River
The Kennebecasis River is a tributary of the Saint John River in southern New Brunswick, Canada. The name Kennebecasis is thought to be derived from the Mi'kmaq "Kenepekachiachk", meaning "little long bay place." It runs for approximately 95 kilometres, draining an area in the Caledonia Highlands,...
.
Belleisle Bay has little current as it has few freshwater inlets and acts more-or-less as a lake in a glacial valley, framed by the low rolling hills of the St. Croix Highlands of the Appalachian
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
range. Although the bay is mostly freshwater, the entire lower St. John River system has a limited saltwater tidal influence resulting from the Reversing Falls
Reversing Falls
The Reversing Falls are a series of rapids on the Saint John River located in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, where the river runs through a narrow gorge before emptying into the Bay of Fundy....
. Its waters freeze completely in the winter months.
Measuring approximately 18 kilometers long by 1 kilometer wide, Belleisle Bay has several small freshwater streams, namely Kingston Creek
Kingston Creek
Kingston Creek is a small river in San Mateo County, California and is a tributary of San Gregorio Creek. The average flow rate of this river is 60 gpm, as measured midway through the path of the river. The river is pumped for Irragation. Some crayfish live in the river....
near the mouth of the bay, and Belleisle Creek at the head of the bay. A small wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
also exists at the head of the bay. The bay hosts a single island, Ghost Island, located between Elmhurst and Lower Kars.
The bay is located entirely within Kings County
Kings County, New Brunswick
Kings County is located in southern New Brunswick, Canada.Both the Saint John and Kennebecasis rivers pass through the county.Dairy farming is an important industry in the area...
. The Bellisle Bay Ferry, a year round cable ferry
Cable ferry
A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
, crosses the bay between Earle Wharf and Long Point.