Salmon River (Nova Scotia)
Encyclopedia
The Salmon River is a Canadian
river in central Nova Scotia
's Colchester County
.
Rising in the Cobequid Hills in the central-northeastern part of the county, the river descends through a broad glacial valley at the head of Cobequid Bay
, the eastern extremity of the Bay of Fundy
. The river discharges into the bay at a point between Lower Truro
and Lower Onslow
, the historic head of navigation.
A tidal bore
is observed daily on the lower part of the river to the head of the tide at Truro
.
The river is known for ice jams during the spring freshet
. Poor planning has led to urban sprawl in Truro and the neighbouring areas of the county impacting the river's floodplain
. During the 1869 Saxby Gale
, the entire floodplain and significant areas of Truro were inundated by ocean waters.
The community of Salmon River
takes its name from 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 in central 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 Colchester County
Colchester County, Nova Scotia
Colchester County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The appellation Colchester was applied in 1780 to the district previously called "Cobequid," and was derived from the town of Colchester in Essex...
.
Rising in the Cobequid Hills in the central-northeastern part of the county, the river descends through a broad glacial valley at the head of Cobequid Bay
Cobequid Bay
Cobequid Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and the easternmost part of the Minas Basin, located in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The bay was carved by rivers flowing into the eastern end of the Bay of Fundy....
, the eastern extremity 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...
. The river discharges into the bay at a point between Lower Truro
Lower Truro, Nova Scotia
Lower Truro is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Colchester County .-References:*...
and Lower Onslow
Lower Onslow, Nova Scotia
Lower Onslow is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Colchester County.-References:*...
, the historic head of navigation.
A tidal bore
Tidal bore
A tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave of water that travel up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the river or bay's current...
is observed daily on the lower part of the river to the head of the tide at Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
.
The river is known for ice jams during the spring freshet
Freshet
A freshet can refer to one of two things:* A flood resulting from heavy rain or a spring thaw. Whereas heavy rain often causes a flash flood, a spring thaw event is generally a more incremental process, depending upon local climate and topography...
. Poor planning has led to urban sprawl in Truro and the neighbouring areas of the county impacting the river's floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
. During the 1869 Saxby Gale
1869 Saxby Gale
The Saxby Gale was the name given to a tropical cyclone which struck eastern Canada's Bay of Fundy region on the night of October 4-5, 1869. The storm was named for Lieutenant Stephen Martin Saxby, a naval instructor and amateur astronomer who, based on his astronomical studies, had predicted...
, the entire floodplain and significant areas of Truro were inundated by ocean waters.
The community of Salmon River
Salmon River, Colchester County, Nova Scotia
Salmon River is an unincorporated Canadian suburban community in central Nova Scotia's Colchester County.A suburb of the town of Truro, Salmon River is located on the south side of the Salmon River, from which it derives its name....
takes its name from the river.
