St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia

:"This article is about the water body. See St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia (administrative district) for the article about the administrative district."

St. Margarets Bay is a Canadian bay located on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia on the border of Halifax and Lunenburg counties.

Description

Opening south directly onto the Atlantic, its eastern shore is formed by the Chebucto Peninsula and its western shore by the Aspotogan Peninsula, while the head of the bay (the northern shore) is the main part of the Nova Scotia peninsula.

The bay's shores are mostly rocky, although the head of the bay offers several sandy beaches at Queensland, Black Point and Cleveland; another sandy beach exists on the western shore of the bay at Bayswater. St. Margarets Bay is a cruising destination for sailing yachts and its picturesque shorelines offer protection in many natural harbours, as well as anchorages in coves and near small islands.

Communities

Eastern Shore

Along the Chebucto Peninsula (from south to north):
* Peggys Cove
* Indian Harbour
* Hackett's Cove
* Glen Margaret
* Seabright
* French Village
* Glen Haven
* Tantallon
* Whynacht's Point
* Upper Tantallon

Northern Shore

Along the head of the bay (from east to west):
* Allen Heights
* Todd's Island
* Head of St. Margarets Bay
* Mason's Point
* Boutilier's Point
* Ingramport
* Black Point
* Queensland
* Hubbards

Western Shore

Along the Aspotogan Peninsula (from north to south):
* Fox Point
* Mill Cove
* Birchy Head
* The Lodge
* Northwest Cove
* Southwest Cove
* Aspotogan
* Bayswater

Islands

St. Margarets Bay contains numerous islands, particularly along its eastern shore. These islands were historically used by the Mi'kmaq Nation and some contain burial sites.

The bay's larger islands are listed below:

* Southwest Island
* Horse Island
* Shut-in Island
* Croucher Island
* Owls Head Island (connected to the mainland by a small bridge)
* Moser's Island
* Micou's Island

External links

* [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ptab=2&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106057049745214088313.00044cbf4412d825a9bf9&mid=1210293586 Google Map-based guide to all of the islands in the Bay, including photos and ownership information.]

References

Nautical chart #4386 "St. Margarets Bay", published by Canadian Hydrographic Service, 2004