450 Granite
| Geology | Scenic Quality | Topics & Habitats |
This District is divided into three Units:
451 Granite Uplands
452 Shelburne Granite Plain
453 Granite Ridge
Geology and Landscape Development
Granite underlies over 50 per cent of the Atlantic Interior and outcrops
in several areas. The largest granite body is the South Mountain
Batholith, which stretches in an arc from near the Tusket River across to
the Halifax-Dartmouth area. Two other much smaller bodies are the
Granite Ridge along the Eastern Shore and the Shelburne Granite Plain.
Other smaller outcrops of granite are found throughout the Region.
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| Shelburne Barrens Click to enlarge |
Granite is very resistant to erosion and tends to form the highest ground in an eroded landscape such as the Atlantic Interior. It forms a rounded landscape of shapeless ridges and depressions with occasional knolls.
The drainage across granite is generally severely deranged, with most of the low areas being waterlogged. If the outcrop is narrow, it may form a ridge and thus a drainage divide, as does the Granite Ridge along the Eastern Shore.
Scenic Quality
Granite localities vary in elevation, topography, and vegetation but have
common scenic elements. They lack human settlement and their thin
soils support a sparse and scrubby second-growth forest. The forest is
interspersed with exposed bedrock and barrens, and large glacially
deposited boulders are found throughout. The deranged drainage
provides many lakes that add much to scenic value and aid recreational
access. All areas are plateau-like, but scenic value is greatly enhanced
along the steep flank of the South Mountain in Annapolis County, and to
a lesser extent on the northern edge of Ten Mile Stream (sub-Unit
451b), overlooking West River St. Marys. With these exceptions, granite
areas typically exhibit low to medium scenic ratings.
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