880 Cliffed Island
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Geology & Landscape | Fresh Water | Plants
| Animals Scenic Quality | Cultural Environment | Topics & Habitats |
Geology and Landscape Development
St. Paul Island is 25 km northeast of Cape North in Cape Breton. It is 5 km long and peaks at 121 m high on Corgan Mountain. It is accompanied by a much smaller island, The Tickle, which is only 300 m long. Geologically the island is part of the Cape Breton highlands. Most of the gneiss and schist that
forms the island belongs to the Precambrian George River Group, although some slightly younger Fourchu Group rocks are found on the northeast coast.
Almost vertical sea cliffs surround St. Paul Island, except on the southwestern side. A sloping plateau surface, reminiscent of the Cape Breton highlands, occupies most of the island; but it has an average elevation of 100 m above sea level, much lower than the highlands' 500 m. There is no sheltered anchorage; the shoreline is scoured by sea ice moving out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in spring. Storm waves attack the cliffs at all times of year.
Fresh Water
Two distinct freshwater ponds on the central plateau drain into the Cabot Strait. Several streams and small bogs provide the remaining surface-water coverage.
Plants
Despite its lower altitude, the plateau surface is exposed to winds comparable to those in the Plateau-Taiga (Region 100). The response of
the vegetation is similar, with stunted spruce-fir coastal forest (H6.2) dominating the island. The barrens, bogs, and exposed cliffs are home to a number
of northerly species not normally found in Nova Scotia, as follows:
- barrens: Bearberry Willow and Alpine Whortleberry, both of which have widespread boreal distributions but are rare in Nova Scotia
- bogs: the sedge Carex gynocrates, the orchid Grass-pink, and the bog birch are all found in bogs and wet depressions; all are widespread but rarely find the right habitat in Nova Scotia
- cliffs: Oxytropis johannensis, one of the pea family of flowering plants, is found here and on other exposed cliffs, particularly around the Bay of Fundy
- shorelines of ponds and streams: Butterwort and Bird's-eye Primrose, although the latter has a more southerly distribution
Animals
Little information is recorded on the terrestrial and aquatic fauna of St. Paul Island. Avifauna records confirm that eight species of birds
breed in this Unit: Leach's Storm-petrel, Black Guillemot, Common Raven, Mourning Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Grey-cheeked
Thrush, and Bald Eagle.
Scenic Quality
Inaccessible, flat-topped St. Paul Island is visible only from vessels in the Cabot Strait or, distantly, from northern Cape Breton Island.
Cultural Environment
St. Paul Island and its lighthouse have long been used as navigational aids. Shipwrecks found in nearby waters have attracted recreational
divers to the island.
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