St. Mary's River (Nova Scotia)

St. Mary's River
Basin
River mouth Atlantic Ocean
Mouth elevation sea level
Size 1,350 km2
Country Canada
Physiognomy
Length 250 km

The St. Mary's River is a Canadian river. It runs through Guysborough County, Antigonish County and Pictou County of Nova Scotia and drains into the Atlantic Ocean at Sonora, Nova Scotia. At approximately 250 kilometres (160 mi), it is one of Nova Scotia's longest rivers. The river drains an area approximately of 1,350 square kilometres (520 sq mi) and has four branches the West, East, North and Main. It offers important Atlantic Salmon habitat and the riverbanks are provide habitat for the wood turtle.[1]

There are an estimated 130 lakes in the St. Mary's watershed, ranging in size from less than 5 hectares (12 acres) to 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi) (Lochaber Lake). The largest lakes, all on the East and North branches, are the Lochaber, Lochiel, Eden and Archibald’s Mills Lakes.

Named Rivère Isle Verte by Champlain,[2] the current name is from Fort Saint Marie, a French-built fort which was later taken over and destroyed by the British. There was also a Fort Saint Charles on the river nearby; both were 17th century forts.[3]

Known fish species in the St. Mary's system

  1. Alewife
  2. Atlantic Salmon
  3. Smelt
  4. Brook Trout
  5. Shiner (fish)
  6. Brown Bullhead
  7. American Eel
  8. Lamprey
  9. Yellow Perch
  10. American Shad
  11. White Perch
  12. Rainbow Trout Escaped Farmed Fish
  13. Atlantic mackerel in the Surf

Conservation

There are efforts under way to protect ecologically important lands along the river.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sean C. Mitchell, St. Mary's River Hydrology, St. Mary’s River Association Technical Report #001, 2009
  2. ↑ C. Bruce Fergusson, "St. Mary's River", Place Names of Nova Scotia, 1967
  3. ↑ Nova Scotia Museum: French Fort Sainte Marie
  4. ↑ Nova Scotia Nature Trust, St. Mary's River Conservation Legacy Campaign

Coordinates: 45°6′19.4″N 61°57′54.7″W / 45.105389°N 61.965194°W / 45.105389; -61.965194

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