Cobequid Hills

The Cobequid Hills, also sometimes referred to as the Cobequid Mountains, is a Canadian mountain range located on the mainland portion of Nova Scotia.

Geologic history

Geologically they are considered part of the Appalachians. The range stretches from Cape Chignecto in Cumberland County in the west through to Pictou County in the east.

Some mistakenly consider the Cobequid Hills to extend into Antigonish County further east, however this smaller range is geologically distinct and is named the Pictou-Antigonish Highlands. [http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nhns2/300/312.htm]

The Cobequid Hills trace their geologic history to the Precambrian and Devonian ages; consequently the mountains are composed of a combination of sediments, granites, and volcanic rock all of which has been crushed and folded by continental drift when this part of Nova Scotia was located at the centre of the Pangea supercontinent. Subsequent erosion over millions of years has resulted in the present-day low range of mountains and rolling hills.

The part of northern Nova Scotia which contains the Cobequid Hills is believed to have been linked with what is now northern Europe. Its collision with a section from present-day northern Africa has resulted in the current landscape in the province; a remnant fault line from this event extends along the southern portion of the Cobequid Hills, immediately north of the Minas Basin and Cobequid Bay east to Canso.

Highest elevations

The Cobequid Hills remain largely uninhabited (by humans), with the highest point being Nuttby Mountain (360 metres). Other high peaks include Higgins Mountain (355m), Dalhousie Mountain (335m), and Mt. Thom.

Freshwater resources

The range contains an abundance of freshwater lakes and some springs. These form headwaters that flow via a number of small rivers and streams south into the Minas Basin and north into Northumberland Strait. Several escarpments have been formed from fault lines, resulting in a number of waterfalls on the southern mountain slopes.

Forests and mineral resources

Forests covering the Cobequid Hills are mainly comprised of hardwood species sugar maple (also known locally as 'rock maple') and yellow birch on mountain slopes. Steep stream and river valleys are dominated by red spruce stands. The lower slopes consist of balsam fir, red spruce, black spruce, white spruce, paper birch, red maple and silver maple (also known locally as 'white maple').

The sedimentary deposits in the Cobequid Hills hold several coal deposits in various basins, stretching across the northern slope of the mountains in Cumberland County (from Joggins through River Hebert to Springhill) and on the southern edge at Debert.

External links

* [http://www.glooscaptrail.com/destinations/index.cfm?rid=4&cid=99&&sfid=150 Waterfalls of the Cobequids]
* [http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nhns2/300/311.htm Feature in the "Natural History of Nova Scotia"]