Information AboutAnnapolis Royal |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, NOVA SCOTIA | |
| communities in annapolis county, nova scotia | |
| towns in nova scotia | |
| acadia | |
| coastal towns in canada | |
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GEOGRAPHY The community is situated at the western end of the fertile Annapolis Valley , nestled between the North and South mountains which define the valley. The world famous Bay Of Fundy is just over the North Mountain, 10 kilometers out of town, and the scenic Annapolis Basin forms the waterfront for this historic town on the southern bank of the Annapolis River at the mouth of Allains Creek. Directly opposite Annapolis Royal on the northern bank of the river is the community of Granville Ferry . HISTORY Together with Port Royal, this region comprises the oldest continuous European settlement north of St. Augustine, Florida and was settled first by Samuel De Champlain and Pierre Dugua, Sieur De Monts in 1605 . The area was subject to frequent capture by the British or its New England Colonists only to be restored each time to French control by subsequent recapture or treaty stipulations. The area remained in French hands throughout most of the 17th Century . Under the Treaty Of Utrecht in 1713 , present-day peninsular Nova Scotia was granted to the British . The treaty had transferred the French colony of Acadia , however the vague boundary definitions saw only the peninsular part of Nova Scotia granted to Britain. In 1710 , the current site of Annapolis Royal was occupied by British forces after the former capital of Acadia at Port Royal was abandoned. The name honours Queen Anne ( 1665 - 1714 ) and is formed through a mix of the former French name Port-Royal and combining the queen's name with that of 'polis', the Greek word for City . Annapolis Royal served as the first capital of the Colony of Nova Scotia from 1710 until the founding of Halifax in 1749 . Fort Anne was built by the British Army to defend the colonial capital from seaward attack. Today, much of the original earthen embankments are preserved for tours by the public, as well as some original buildings to the military facility. Incorporation as a town under the provincial municipalities act took place in 1893 . The Annapolis Basin , Annapolis River and the Annapolis Valley all take their name from the town. Since the early 20th Century , the outskirts of the town has been the site of a bridge connecting the south side of the Annapolis River to the north side at Granville Ferry; before the bridge, there was a ferry connection. In 1984 , the bridge was replaced with a causeway or Dam as part of the Nova Scotia Power Tidal Generating Station , a Tidal Power project. The damming of the Annapolis River by the government of Nova Scotia was done as a pilot project to investigate this alternative method of generating electricity, and is the first and only tidal power facility ever built in North America. This project has created tangible environmental changes in water and air temperatures in the area, siltation patterns in the river, and increased erosion of the river banks behind the dam. ECONOMY The trains of the Dominion Atlantic Railway ceased operations in 1990, bringing much industrial commerce within the confines of Nova Scotia's smallest town to a halt. Today, after many years of neglect, the old brick railway station is being privately rennovated into professional office space. The fleet of scallop boats moored in the Annapolis Basin continue to generate millions of dollars of economic activity each year, and support many businesses in the Annapolis Royal area. Fort Anne, contained within the boundaries of the town, was designated as a National Historic Site in 1917 and is a natural tourist attraction. The town also contains the largest Registered Historic District in Canada, as well as a waterfront boardwalk, a variety of unique shops, and many mature trees. Visitors can enjoy a fine selection of Bed & Breakfast accommodations, the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens (established in 1986), and a number of historical walking tours. An added benefit is the scenery of the surrounding countryside, much of which is agricultural. The mild climate and scenic location make this a favourite destination in all seasons. Nova Scotia's largest amusement park, Upper Clements Park, was built several kilometres west of the town in nearby Clementsport . The town, along with most of Annapolis and Digby counties, experienced a severe economic decline during the mid- 1990s after a nearby military training base, CFB Cornwallis , was closed as a result of defence budget cuts. The former base located on the shores of the Annapolis Basin in Cornwallis is now the site of an international Peacekeeping training centre, and an innovative industrial park for small businesses. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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