Geography of New Brunswick

Road map of New Brunswick.

New Brunswick (French: Nouveau-Brunswick) is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces, and the only officially bilingual province (French and English) in the country. Its capital is Fredericton, though its largest city is Saint John.

Physical geography

Seal Cove, Grand Manan Island. Southern New Brunswick is rockbound and dominated by the extreme tidal range of the Bay of Fundy, which is of significant economic importance to the province.

New Brunswick is bounded on the north by Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula and Chaleur Bay and on the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and Northumberland Strait. To the east, the narrow Isthmus of Chignecto connects it to peninsular Nova Scotia, most of which is separated from the mainland by the Bay of Fundy. On its west, the province borders the American state of Maine. The boundary with the U.S. was settled during the "Aroostook War" of 1838-39 which was largely instigated by businessman and political activist John Baker. New Brunswick is one of two provinces (the other being Alberta) to border a single U.S. state.

The total land and water area of the province is 72,908 square kilometres. About 80% of the province is forested, with the other 20% consisting of agricultural land and urban areas. The major urban centres lie in the south of the province. The bulk of the arable land is found in the Upper Saint John River Valley, with lesser amounts of farmland found in the southeast of the province.

File:Vue de Saint-Simon.jpg

Underlain by sandstone bedrock, coastal areas of eastern New Brunswick are typically flat to undulating and are often deeply indented by tidal inlets.

While New Brunswick is one of Canada's Maritime Provinces, it differs from its neighbours both ethnoculturally and physiographically. Both Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are either wholly or nearly surrounded by water and the ocean therefore tends to define their climate, economy and culture. New Brunswick, on the other hand, although having a significant seacoast, is sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean proper and has a large interior which is removed from oceanic effects. New Brunswick therefore tends to be defined by its rivers rather than its seacoast.

The major river systems in the province include the Saint John River, Petitcodiac River, Miramichi River, St. Croix River and the Restigouche River. The Saint John River is thought to be the second longest river on the North American eastern seaboard between the St. Lawrence River and the Mississippi River.

File:Kenthillswindfarm.png

The Kent Hills Wind Farm sits atop an extension of the Appalachian Mountain range in southeastern New Brunswick.

New Brunswick lies entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range, a chain of ancient, eroded mountains which have created river valleys and low, gently rolling hills throughout large parts of the province. The eastern and central part of the province consists of the New Brunswick Lowland within the Gulf of St. Lawrence lowland forests ecoregion, whereas the Caledonia Highlands and St. Croix Highlands extend along the Bay of Fundy coast, reaching elevations of 300 metres. The northwestern part of the province is the remote and more rugged Miramichi Highlands, Chaleur Uplands, and the Notre Dame Mountains with a maximum elevation at Mount Carleton of 820 metres.

The northern seacoast, along Miramichi Bay, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Chaleur is called the North Shore, a region predominately Francophone, but with sizable English-speaking communities

Rivers

See also: List of rivers of New Brunswick

File:Grand Falls Raging Waterfall.jpg

Grand Falls, New Brunswick. Besides contributing energy for hydroelectric plants, the 673 km (418 mi) Saint John River nourishes thousands of hectares of prime agricultural land in western New Brunswick.

The majority of western New Brunswick is drained by the Saint John River system. The river, which rises in northern Maine, empties into the Bay of Fundy in Saint John. Notable tributaries within the province include the Madawaska River, Tobique River, Meduxnekeag River, Nashwaak River, Oromocto River, Nerepis River and Kennebecasis River. Other water bodies within the Saint John River system are Grand Lake (which itself is fed by the Salmon River), Washademoak Lake (fed by the Canaan River), and Belleisle Bay. The high tides of the Bay of Fundy often cause the Saint John River to flow upstream, an effect most pronounced at the Reversing Falls in Saint John.

The Petitcodiac River, Shepody River, Tantramar River, and Memramcook River empty into Chignecto Bay at the head of the Bay of Fundy. Like the Saint John River, the Bay of Fundy tides cause another upstream phenomenon, known as a tidal bore. The construction of a causeway on the river at Moncton, approximately 50 kilometres upstream, has lessened the tidal bore's effect and changed the river's ecosystem.

Other rivers which empty into the Bay of Fundy include the St. Croix River, Digdeguash River, Magaguadavic River, Lepreau River, Musquash River, and Big Salmon River.

File:DGJ 8532 - Miramichi Bridge.jpg

Bridge across the Miramichi River in northeastern New Brunswick.

The system of the Miramichi River, which flows into Miramichi Bay at the city of Miramichi, drains a large portion of central New Brunswick. There are two main branches, the Southwest Miramichi River and Northwest Miramichi River, with several smaller tributaries such as the Dungarvon River, Renous River, Bartholomew River and Cains River. The Miramichi River system is noted for its salmon pools and parks.

The Restigouche River system drains a large portion of northwestern and north-central New Brunswick. The river flows into the Bay of Chaleur at its head near Dalhousie, and like the Miramichi, is renowned for its salmon fishing. Notable tributaries are the Kedgwick River, Patapedia River, and Upsalquitch River.

The Nepisiguit River is another notable river feeding the Bay of Chaleur. Smaller rivers into the bay include the Caraquet River, Tetagouche River and Jacquet River.

The Northumberland Strait is fed by the Kouchibouguac, Kouchibouguacis, Richibucto, Bouctouche, Cocagne and Shediac Rivers; while the Gulf of St. Lawrence is fed by the Tabusintac, Big Tracadie and Pokemouche Rivers.

Cultural geography

New Brunswick is a rural province with nearly half of the Province's residents living in rural areas (rural in this instance is defined by type of services available and boundaries of local government units). However, as population growth occurs around the periphery of major cities, these "urban adjacent" areas begin to be more urban in character, in large part describing a departure from a rural community population base.

In the geographical sense, many prominent communities owe their existence to a relationship with or dependence on navigable water because of the access to land and resources it provides.

Communities

See also: List of communities in New Brunswick

Counties and Parishes are the organizational units in which New Brunswick communities reside. Since the disbanding of county government in the mid-1960s, incorporated Cites, Towns, Villages and Rural Communities exist alongside unincorporated units called Local Service Districts in the Province's municipal system. Most unincorporated communities relate to residence in the County, like elsewhere, the Townships, or more recently, in the "shire". New Brunswick can be subdivided into 5 geographic regions; these regions include north-eastern, north-western, south-eastern, south-western and central New Brunswick.

Cities and major municipalities

See also: List of cities in New Brunswick

The major urban areas of the province are Greater Saint John (Saint John, Quispamsis, Rothesay) and Greater Moncton (Moncton, Riverview, Dieppe). Moncton being the largest Metro at 126,424 and Saint John coming in second at 122,389. Greater Fredericton (the provincial capital) has a census agglomeration population of 85,688. The population of New Brunswick is majority English-speaking but with a substantial (35%) French-speaking minority called Acadians (from "Acadia", the former name of this region during the French colonial period). Most Acadians migrated to the area from the Vienne region of France. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada.

10 largest municipalities by population

Municipality	2011	2006	2001	1996	1991
Saint John		68 043	69 661	72 494	74 969
Moncton		64 128	61 046	59 313	56 823
Fredericton		50 535	47 560	46 507	46 466
Dieppe		18 565	14 951	12 497	10 650
Miramichi		18 129	18 508	19 241	21 165
Riverview		17 832	17 010	16 653	16 270
Edmundston		16 643	17 373*	11,033	10,835
Quispamsis		15 239	13 757	13 579
Bathurst		12 714	12 924	13 815	14 409
Rothesay		11 637	11 505	11 470	N/A

largest metropolitans by population

Metropolitan	2006	2001	1996	1991
Greater Moncton	126 424	118 678	113 491	107 436
Greater Saint John	122 389	122 678	125 705	125 838
Greater Fredericton	85 688	81,346	78,950	74,718
Bathurst	31 424	32 523*	25 415	25 734
Miramichi	24 737	25 274	N/A	N/A
Edmundston	21 442	22 173	22 624	22 205
Campbellton	17 888	18 820	16 867	17 183

• asterisk denotes boundary change

Saint John is a port city that is full of maritime culture and the only city on the Bay of Fundy. The city is the oldest incorporated city in Canada with a large urban setting, having some of the most impressive 19th century architecture in Canada. Saint John's main industries include; Tourism, IT,Health and Education sector as well as heavy industry on the East Side including the largest oil refinery in Canada. The city is also home to Moosehead Breweries/ James Ready Breweries. Saint John is an artistic city with a downtown filled with local art galleries with some of the finest restaurants and theatres in Eastern Canada.

Moncton is the largest Metropolitan in New Brunswick, it is the fastest growing city east of Toronto, and is in the top 10 in Canada. Moncton is principally a transportation, distribution, commercial and retail centre. Moncton has a sizeable francophone Acadian minority (35%). The majority of Moncton's recent growth is due to rural depopulation of the north shore of the province.

Fredericton, in addition to being the capital and bureaucratic centre of the province, is a university town, and home to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Theatre New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, and other amenities, including Christ Church Cathedral, whose foundation is the oldest in Canada or the United States. Fredericton is nicknamed the "City of Stately Elms". It has boasted of the largest stand of elms outside of Central Park since Dutch Elm Disease devastated this species in the early 20th century.

Gallery

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  Dickson Falls, Fundy National Park

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  Mount Carleton

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  Longest covered bridge in the world, in winter, Hartland

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  Boardwalk across the dunes, Buctouche

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  Fort Howe

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  Cape Enrage

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  Imperial Theatre, Saint John

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  Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton

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  Grand Falls

Parks

See also: List of protected areas of New Brunswick

National parks

New Brunswick has two national parks.

Park	Location	Size	Activities	Campsites
Fundy National Park	Alma	207 km²	extensive hiking trails (1 is 100 km long), boardwalk, mountain biking, golfing, fishing, birdwatching, swimming, cross-country skiing, skating...	3 campgrounds, 1 group campgrounds, backcountry camping
Kouchibouguac National Park	Richibucto	238 km²	swimming, cycling, canoeing...	campgrounds, group camping, backcountry camping

Provincial parks

There are eleven provincial parks.

Park	Location	Size	Activities	Campsites
Anchorage Provincial Park	Grand Manan	139-ha.	hiking trails, bird watching	100
de la République Provincial Park	Edmundston	44-ha.	botanical garden, trails, tennis & volleyball, playground, horseshoe pits, boat ramp, picnic sites, antique automobile museum, heated pool	150
Herring Cove Provincial Park	Campobello Island	425-ha.	wildlife (bald eagles, ospreys, beavers), various hiking trails, picnic sites, kitchen shelters, playgrounds, 9-hole golf course, pro shop, beach	88
Mactaquac Provincial Park	Mactaquac	525-ha.	18-hole championship golf course, various hiking trails (1 wheelchair accessible), beach, windsurfing, canoeing, fishing, picnic sites	300+
Mount Carleton Provincial Park	Saint-Quentin	17,000-ha.	Mount Carleton, 62 km long hiking ridge, biking trails, canoeing (3 lakes & 2 rivers)
Murray Beach Provincial Park	Murray Corner	29-ha.	Northumberland Strait beach	111
New River Beach Provincial Park	Pocologan	89-ha.	Bay of Fundy beach, nature trail	100
Oak Bay Provincial Park	St. Stephen		camp at the mouth of the St. Croix River	115
Parlee Beach Provincial Park	Shediac	33-ha.	Northumberland Strait beach	165
Sugarloaf Provincial Park	Atholville	1136-ha.	mountain hiking trails, biking trails, alpine slide	76
Val Comeau Provincial Park	Tracadie–Sheila		campsite is 70 m from the beach

Municipal parks

Park	Location	Size	Activities
Beech Hill Park	Sackville		walking, cross-country skiing
Blackville Municipal Park	Blackville		trails, playground, barbecue pits
Carleton Park	Fredericton		trails, picnic tables, boat launch
Centennial Park	Moncton		beach, hiking, horseshoe pits, wheelchair-accessible playground, water park, lawn bowling, cross-country skiing, outdoor skating
Irishtown Nature Park	Moncton	890-ha	kayaking, canoeing, hiking, wetlands, cross-country skiing
Irving Nature Park	Saint John	243-ha	hiking along the Bay of Fundy, free guided tours, birdwatching, lookout tower, free barbecue pits
Killarney Lake Park	Fredericton		swimming, walking trails
Mapleton Park	Moncton	121-ha	birdwatching, hiking trails, cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating
Miramichi Skate Park	Miramichi		BMX, skateboarding and in-line skate park
Morrissey Rock Park and Scenic Lookout	Tide Head		picnicking over the Restigouche River
Odell Park and Odell Arboretum	Fredericton	175-ha.	trails, barbecue pits, duck pond, outdoor skating, cross-country skiing
Parc du Vieux Moulin	Nigadoo		swimming
Petit Témis Interprovincial Linear Park	Edmundston	130-km long	cycling path along the Madawaska River and Lake Témiscouata, snowmobling
Richelieu Municipal Park	Neguac
Ritchie Wharf Park	Miramichi		shipbuilding-themed park, dock & boat launch
Riverfront Park	Moncton		paved and dirt paths for wheelchairs, bicycles, in-line skates, walking and running, part of Trans Canada Trail
Rockwood Park	Saint John	890-ha.	10 freshwater lakes, hiking trails, campsite, zoo, golf club
Rockwood Park Beach	Saint John		swimming, hiking, arboretum
Sackville Waterfowl Park	Sackville		birdwatching, boardwalks and trails, Tantramar Marsh
Sandy Point Park	Baie-Sainte-Anne		beach, campsite
Sir Douglas Hazen Park	Oromocto		Fort Huges Military Blockhouse, marina
Wilmot Park	Fredericton	4.9-ha.	trails, lawn bowling, courts, playground

International parks

Roosevelt Campobello International Park, on Campobello Island is operated jointly by Canada and the United States and preserves the family cottage of former United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Saint Croix Island International Historical Site; in the middle of the Saint Croix River, although actually located in the state of Maine and operated by the United States National Park Service, is a significant Canadian historical site and a Parks Canada interpretive centre is located on the Canadian shoreline opposite the island.

Heritage and historical sites

National

Fort Beauséjour

Free Meeting House in Moncton

Site	Location	Description
Beaubears Island Shipbuilding and Boishébert	near Miramichi	19th-century shipbuilding & Acadian refugee settlement, 1756–59
Carleton Martello Tower	Saint John	fortification built to defend the city during War of 1812
Christ Church Cathedral	Fredericton	gothic-revival architecture in this 150-year-old Anglican cathedral
Fort Beauséjour	Aulac	remnants of 1751 French fort
Fort Gaspareaux	Port Elgin	military ruins and cemetery of 1751 French fort
Fredericton City Hall and Bicentennial Tapestries	Fredericton	oldest city hall still in use in the Maritime provinces with 27 tapestries depicting the history of the capital city
Moncton Free Meeting House	Moncton	built in 1821
Historic Garrison District	Fredericton	York-Sunbury Museum in the former 1839 officer's quarters, guided tours, changing of the guard
Honourable Charles Connell House	Woodstock	built in 1840
Loyalist House	Saint John	Loyalist period furnishings, circa. 1810-1833 Georgian house, tea with the mayor every Wednesday in July and August
McAdam Railway Station	McAdam	granite, 3-storey station built between 1900-1911 by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Monument Lefebvre	Memramcook	multi-function building, symbol of Acadian cultural revival
No.2 Engine House/Saint John Firefighters Museum	Saint John	1840-1841 built neo-classical fire hall, exhibit of the Great Fire of 1877
Partridge Island	Saint John	quarantine station during Irish immigration in the 19th Century, also military posts from the 18th century through World War II, world's first steam-operated fog horn built in 1852
Queens County Historical Society and Museum	Gagetown	birthplace of Sir Leonard Tilley, restored courthouse, Loyalist and Victorian furnishings, genealogical research centre
St. Andrews Blockhouse	St. Andrews	restored wooden blockhouse from War of 1812
St. Andrews Historic District	St. Andrews	walking tour
Tilley House	Gagetown	built in 1786, birthplace of Sir Leonard Tilley in 1818

Provincial

Site	Location	Description
Beaverbrook House	Miramichi	built in 1877, childhood home of Lord Beaverbrook
Bell Inn Provincial Historic Site	Dorchester	built in 1811, the oldest stone structure in the province
Bonar Law Historic Society	Rexton	birthplace of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andrew Bonar Law with a 19th-century working farm
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception	Edmundston	mixture of Roman and Gothic styles, construction began in 1924, exterior of granite, can accommodate more than 1200 people
Chapelle de Beaumont	Memramcook	built for the Aboriginal people of Beamont Cape in 1842
Charlotte County Archives, the Old Gaol and the Charlotte County Courthouse	St. Andrews	built in the 19th century, classical-revival style, oldest continuous use courthouse in Canada, the jail was built in 1832
Doak Provincial Historic Site	Doaktown	built for the family of Robert Doak in 1825
Fortin du Petit-Sault	Edmundston	built in 1841 during the boundary dispute between the US and England, re-built in 2000
Hampton Gaol	Hampton	the jail originally built in Kingston, New Brunswick, it was taken down and rebuilt brick-by-brick in 1870
Historic Garrison District	Fredericton	York-Sunbury Museum in the former 1839 officer's quarters, guided tours, changing of the guard
Keillor House	Dorchester	built of stone in 1813, Regency-style mansion
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick	Fredericton	seat of government since 1842, library has more than 50,000 books
MacDonald Farm Provincial Historic Site	Bartibog	built in the 1820s, Georgian stone house
Maison Historique Pascal-Poirier Art Gallery and Museum	Shediac	built in 1825, Acadia's first senator is featured
Ministers Island Historic Site	St. Andrews	50-room, sandstone mansion built in 1890
Monument Notre-Dame de l'Assomption	Rogersville	Msgr. Marcel-François Richard, responsible for the 19th Acadian cultural revival
Old Carleton County Court House	Woodstock	built in 1833 and restored in 1966
Old Victoria County Registry Office and Courthouse	Perth-Andover	built in 1902
Old Victoria County Registry Office and Courthouse	Perth-Andover	built in 1902
Partridge Island, New Brunswick	Saint John	quarantine station during Irish immigration in the 19th Century, also military posts from the 18th century through World War II, world's first steam-operated fog horn built in 1852
Queens County Court House	Gagetown	built in 1836
Queens County Historical Society and Museum	Gagetown	birthplace of Sir Leonard Tilley, restored courthouse, Loyalist and Victorian furnishings, genealogical research centre
Saint-Henri de Barachois Church	Barachois	built in 1826, oldest standing wooden church in Acadia
Sheriff Andrews House Provincial Historic Site	St. Andrews	built approx. 1820
St. Andrews Historic District	St. Andrews
St. Michael's Museum and Genealogical Centre	Miramichi	built in 1846

See also

• Communities in New Brunswick
• Counties in New Brunswick
• Airports in New Brunswick
• Rivers in New Brunswick
• Schools in New Brunswick

External links

• Official site of the Government of New Brunswick