Wentworth Valley
Encyclopedia
The Wentworth Valley is a valley in the Cobequid Hills of northwestern Nova Scotia
, Canada
.
The valley is located in a glacial trough (Folly Gap) north of Folly Mountain and comprises the lowest elevation pass through the Cobequids. It was named after the colonial governor John Wentworth
(1792-1808).
The valley is the shortest route between Halifax and the Isthmus of Chignecto
border with New Brunswick
. In 1872 the Intercolonial Railway
built its mainline between Halifax and Rivière-du-Loup
through the valley, rising along its western walls to gain altitude to reach the summit at Folly Lake.
Highways followed the railway during the 20th century and Trunk 4 was built through the valley and over Folly Mountain. During the early 1960s this road was redesignated Highway 104
, the Trans-Canada Highway
. In 1996 a toll highway was built over the much higher altitude Cobequid Pass
to the west and the valley's roads reverted to a secondary route.
The eastern wall of the valley hosts an alpine ski
hill - Ski Wentworth
, as well as a NATO satellite earth station that is currently being deactivated.
The valley hosts the communities of Wentworth
, Wentworth Centre, Wentworth Station, and West Wentworth. In the nineteenth century there were watermills on the Folly and Wallace Rivers and copper was mined from the bedrock. A copper smelter operated for a short time at West Wentworth.
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...
, Canada
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...
.
The valley is located in a glacial trough (Folly Gap) north of Folly Mountain and comprises the lowest elevation pass through the Cobequids. It was named after the colonial governor John Wentworth
John Wentworth (governor)
Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet was the British colonial governor of New Hampshire at the time of the American Revolution. He was later also Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia.-Early life:...
(1792-1808).
The valley is the shortest route between Halifax and the Isthmus of Chignecto
Isthmus of Chignecto
The Isthmus of Chignecto is an isthmus bordering the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia which connects the Nova Scotia peninsula with North America....
border with 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...
. In 1872 the Intercolonial Railway
Intercolonial Railway of Canada
The Intercolonial Railway of Canada , also referred to as the Intercolonial Railway , was a historic Canadian railway that operated from 1872 to 1918, when it became part of Canadian National Railways...
built its mainline between Halifax and Rivière-du-Loup
Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec
Rivière-du-Loup is a small city on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec. The city is the seat for the Rivière-du-Loup Regional County Municipality and the judicial district of Kamouraska.-History:...
through the valley, rising along its western walls to gain altitude to reach the summit at Folly Lake.
Highways followed the railway during the 20th century and Trunk 4 was built through the valley and over Folly Mountain. During the early 1960s this road was redesignated Highway 104
Nova Scotia Highway 104
Highway 104 in Nova Scotia runs from the New Brunswick border near Amherst to St. Peter's. Except for the portion on Cape Breton Island between Port Hawkesbury and St. Peter's, it is part of the Trans-Canada Highway....
, the Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
. In 1996 a toll highway was built over the much higher altitude Cobequid Pass
Cobequid Pass
Cobequid Pass is the name given to a 45 kilometre toll section of Nova Scotia Highway 104 in Colchester County and Cumberland County between Masstown and Thompson Station with a toll station near Great Village...
to the west and the valley's roads reverted to a secondary route.
The eastern wall of the valley hosts an alpine ski
Alpine Ski
Alpine Ski is an Alpine skiing arcade game, released by Taito in 1981.- Description :The player controls a skier, who can move left, right, or increase forward speed. The aim is to maneuver a skier through a downhill ski course, a slalom course, and a ski jumping competition in the shortest time...
hill - Ski Wentworth
Ski Wentworth
Ski Wentworth is a Canadian alpine ski hill in Nova Scotia's Cobequid Hills.Ski Wentworth is located in the hamlet of Wentworth in the Wentworth Valley, 48 km northwest of Truro and 67 km east of Amherst on Trunk 4....
, as well as a NATO satellite earth station that is currently being deactivated.
The valley hosts the communities of Wentworth
Wentworth, Nova Scotia
Wentworth is a small Canadian rural community located in the Wentworth Valley of Nova Scotia.The community takes in the following hamlets:* Lower Wentworth* Wentworth Centre* Wentworth Station* Wentworth Valley...
, Wentworth Centre, Wentworth Station, and West Wentworth. In the nineteenth century there were watermills on the Folly and Wallace Rivers and copper was mined from the bedrock. A copper smelter operated for a short time at West Wentworth.