Geology | Scenic Quality

Geology
A number of fault blocks are grouped within this District in northern mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, and are positioned on the up-tilted, northern side of the planation surface. The highest elevations of each block are between 275 and 340 m. A similar elevation and northerly position on the planation surface give areas within the District common climatic characteristics. At these elevations the plateau is characterized by hardwoods. This District also includes areas of lower elevation, down to 200m, in which softwoods occur.

Scenic Quality
These plateaus have similar qualities, because they possess similar topography, range of relief, and vegetation. The smaller units (Mabou Highlands and North Mountain) possess little or no plateau top and thus offer

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throughout what is available only on the margins of the other uplands: high relief, incised river valleys, and panoramic views of surrounding lowlands. Though the forest land cover is unrelieved by lakes or fields, the broadleaf trees are scenically distinctive and display spectacular autumn colour. Waterfalls are another interesting landscape element and occur most frequently in the Mabou Highlands and on the faulted southern scarp of the Cobequid Hills. Scenic quality is very high where these uplands overlook the ocean or large lakes, as on the Mabou coast, along the West Bay of Bras d'Or Lake, and along the shores of Cobequid Bay and Minas Channel.