The Avon River
The section of the Avon River where our museum sits is not really a river, but rather a tidal estuary of the Minas Basin. Long ago, when Nova Scotia was 30 metres higher above sea-level, this was a river. It had its source near Halifax, went through the Panuke lakes, and flowed across what was the dry land of the Minas Basin and into the Northumberland Strait. Rising ocean and sinking land has swallowed much of this ancestor river.
The Mi’kmaq called the Avon the “Tooetunook” which means “flowing square into the sea”. The Acadian name for the river, Pisiquid, also comes from a Mi’kmaw word, “Pesegitk”, which means “to flow split-wise” or “junction of waters”. The British called it the Avon after a Scottish river. Rivers flowing into the Avon include the Halfway, Herbert, Cogmagun, Kennetcook and St. Croix.
Before a causeway was built in 1971, a freshwater stream flowed into this section of the Avon River, which flushed silt left in the channel back out into the Minas Basin. This water now pools behind the causeway at Windsor to form Lake Pesaquid and silt chokes the Avon.
The Avon River is famous for its tidal bore. As the incoming tide enters the funnel-shaped estuary, it is channelled into a single wave, which can reach almost a meter in height and speeds of up to 10 km per hour in narrow sections of the river.
The red marsh mud of silt, sand, clay and water bursts with nutrients containing six times more potassium, 2.5 times more phosphorus, 3.5 times more calcium and four times more magnesium then does upland topsoil. Acadians farming dyked marshland did not need to fertilize it. Later, farmers in Hants County held “mud flings”, gathering together to spread mud on uplands as a fertilizer.
We invite you to our facility to experience the unique ecology and heritage of this beautiful area, which people of many backgrounds have called home. We invite you to stay and savour the views, glorious sunset, and amenities of this park and return to participate in our communities many events, including the Full Circle Music Festival, the Honey Harvest Festival, Avondale Wharf Day and monthly art exhibits.
The Mi’kmaq called the Avon the “Tooetunook” which means “flowing square into the sea”. The Acadian name for the river, Pisiquid, also comes from a Mi’kmaw word, “Pesegitk”, which means “to flow split-wise” or “junction of waters”. The British called it the Avon after a Scottish river. Rivers flowing into the Avon include the Halfway, Herbert, Cogmagun, Kennetcook and St. Croix.
Before a causeway was built in 1971, a freshwater stream flowed into this section of the Avon River, which flushed silt left in the channel back out into the Minas Basin. This water now pools behind the causeway at Windsor to form Lake Pesaquid and silt chokes the Avon.
The Avon River is famous for its tidal bore. As the incoming tide enters the funnel-shaped estuary, it is channelled into a single wave, which can reach almost a meter in height and speeds of up to 10 km per hour in narrow sections of the river.
The red marsh mud of silt, sand, clay and water bursts with nutrients containing six times more potassium, 2.5 times more phosphorus, 3.5 times more calcium and four times more magnesium then does upland topsoil. Acadians farming dyked marshland did not need to fertilize it. Later, farmers in Hants County held “mud flings”, gathering together to spread mud on uplands as a fertilizer.
We invite you to our facility to experience the unique ecology and heritage of this beautiful area, which people of many backgrounds have called home. We invite you to stay and savour the views, glorious sunset, and amenities of this park and return to participate in our communities many events, including the Full Circle Music Festival, the Honey Harvest Festival, Avondale Wharf Day and monthly art exhibits.
