Overview

The Atlantic provinces boast some of the most beautiful scenery in eastern North America, including the spectacular Cape Breton Highlands, the magnificent sand dunes and beaches on Prince Edward Island, the cliffs and fjords of Newfoundland's Gros Morne National Park and the stunning landscapes along the Bay of Fundy, sculpted by the highest and most powerful tides in the world. The area's unique charm, however, is also largely due to the simple scenes of everyday life, like the sight of a fleet of colourful ships heading out in the morning fog from a little fishing port along the coast.

Attractions

New Brunswick

New Brunswick, gateway to Atlantic Canada, is enchanting in its diversity. Geographically, it is remarkably varied, combining more than 1,000 km (621 mi) of shoreline and seascapes with picturesque farmland and endless stretches of often mountainous wilderness. The territory is traversed from north to south by the majestic St. John River, which has always been essential to the province's development; charming towns and villages have sprung up along its richly fertile banks. Among these are Fredericton, New Brunswick's pretty capital, with its old-fashioned feel, and Saint John, the province's chief port city and industrial centre. After winding its way through a pastoral landscape, the St. John River empties into the Bay of Fundy, whose often spectacularly steep shores mark the southern border of New Brunswick.

Nova Scotia

The magnificent province of Nova Scotia looks like a long peninsula, connected to the continent by nothing more than a narrow strip of land known as the Chignecto Isthmus. In "Canada's Ocean Playground," the sea is never far away. What is most striking about Nova Scotia is the way its architectural heritage blends so harmoniously with the natural setting. From the tiniest fishing village to Halifax, the capital, there are few places where the architecture of the houses and buildings, often dating back to the 19th century, does not fit in beautifully with the surrounding landscape.

Prince Edward Island

This island is known above all for its magnificent white sand dunes and beaches, often deserted and extending between sea and land as far as the eye can see. It goes without saying that these ribbons of sand are among the most beautiful on the east coast of the continent. The beaches may be what initially attracts most visitors, but they quickly discover the many other treasures Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) has to offer. For starters, there is the small capital city of Charlottetown, whose architecture and unique atmosphere give it an antique charm. From there, the possibilities are virtually endless: the friendliest fresh lobster feasts you can imagine, the storybook world of Anne of Green Gables, the kindness of the inhabitants, and the richness of the magnificent plants and wildlife of Prince Edward Island National Park.

Newfoundland

Still a little-known corner of the world, Newfoundland is very different from Canada's other Atlantic provinces. Newfoundland's landscape, often very rugged, is so splendid that you can't help but stand back and marvel. The capital of the province, St. John's, lies in a magnificent natural setting on the shores of a long harbour rimmed with high, rocky hills. The west part of the island is shaped by the ancient Long Range Mountains, the tail end of the Appalachians. Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers visitors a remarkable chance to explore these mountains, which in many places plunge straight into the limpid waters of deep fjords.

Where on earth

The Atlantic provinces are located in the east of Canada. The coasts of these four provinces are washed by the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Fundy.