431 Annapolis Drumlins
| Geology | Fresh Water | Plants |
Animals | Cultural Environment Topics & Habitats |
This Unit has four subdivisions:
(a) Fisher Lake
(b) Spectacle Lake
(c) Alma Lake
(d) Round Lake
Geology and Landscape Development
The Annapolis Drumlins are found in four small, isolated localities on the
South Mountain Granite. Drumlins do not normally form from granitic
material. Those drumlins frequently have a rock core. Occasional granitic
drumlins are found in non-granite areas such as on Graves Island, but this
is unusual. These drumlins contain large granite boulders, are often well-
or excessively well-drained, and have soils with characteristics similar to
Gibraltar soils (see Figure 12).
Fresh Water
Many lakes of various sizes and several chain lake systems are found in
sub-Units 431a and 421b. All four sub-Units contain significant wetlands,
typically flat bogs associated with fens. This Unit contains the partial
headwaters of the Mersey and Medway rivers. The highest recorded
conductivity level is 32 micromhos/cm, and pH averages 6.0.
Plants
The drumlins provide very productive forest sites. On the better-drained
tops and slopes, a mixed forest is most common, with Eastern Hemlock,
Red Spruce, White Pine, Sugar Maple, Yellow Birch, and some Red Maple.
On the wetter sites between the drumlins, spruce, fir, and pine with
shade-intolerant hardwoods predominate. Ash is often found on the
steep side slopes where seepage occurs.
Animals
Fish species include White Suckers, Yellow Perch, Banded Killifish, Brown
Bullhead, Smallmouth Bass, Creek Chub, and Golden Shiner.
Cultural Environment
Drumlins have been used for agriculture in this area, but some of these
farms were later abandoned and underwent successional forest
regeneration. The woodlands attracted migrants from the timber trade,
but it was the fertile drumlins that made them settle. Tourism had its
beginnings in this area with the arrival of American sportsmen in the
1870s who came for a hunting and angling experience in the backwoods
of Nova Scotia, described by travel books as being "unsurpassed game
country." Country lodges and cabins were built to accommodate these
first American tourists. Today, tourism and outdoor recreation continue
to be an important land use.
Provincial Parks and Park Reserves
Proposed Parks and Protected Areas System includes Natural Landscapes 16a and 16b.
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