The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History features a female blue lobster, which is a rare and unique specimen. This blue lobster is part of the museum’s collection and is a testament to the diversity of marine life in Nova Scotia.
Visitors can learn about the blue lobster’s genetic mutation that results in its distinctive blue coloration and its significance in the museum’s exhibits. The blue lobster is not only a rare find but also a symbol of the museum’s commitment to preserving and showcasing the natural heritage of the region.
Gus is a 103-year-old gopher tortoise living at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History and is considered to be an icon of Halifax. He is believed to be the world’s oldest living gopher tortoise.
Gus can be found on supervised walks through the museum halls, and is no longer allowed to be touched by visitors. During nice weather, Gus will roam in the backyard of the museum. His favourite foods are blueberries, bananas, and romaine lettuce. He also loves grasses and clovers, as well as fresh dandelions.
Gus received his name in 1952. He is named after John Augustus Gilhen, who devoted his time to helping at the museum throughout the 1950s. Gus had a particular fondness for Gilhen, who would give him snacks.
The two square ponds on the north bank of the river upstream from Bridgetown are part of the Carleton Corner wastewater treatment plant. They are settling lagoons, and can be accesed at the the end of Washington Street.
The bridge over the east and west banks of the Annapolis River is part of the Annapolis Valley Trail System. I have previously made a post about the history of the bridge.
I like all things hydroelectric, especially when a bit of sleuthing and perseverance is required to visit them. Nova Scotia Power is a bit tight-lipped when it comes to such things, and if not for seeing a surge tower in the distance while travelling on Highway 201 in the Annapolis Valley, I would not have known that there was a hydroelectric plant in the area.
Having discovered that there was in fact, a hydroelectric plant in the area, I wanted to know more. According to Google, Paradise Hydroelectric is a 4.2 MW power station located off Highway 201, in West Paradise.
This was as close to the penstock pipeline surge tower as I could legally fly my drone, as I had reached an altitude of 120 metres above ground level. Time for a drive up along a fairly rough road to see if I could get a better look.
I had had enough of driving by the time we reached the north end of Birch Hill Lake, or at least that’s where the image EXIF data suggests we were. Oddly enough, Birch Hill Lake does not appear to be near West Paradise if you want to trust Google.
A drone-powered aerial view of the Annapolis River, in Middleton, Nova Scotia
The Annapolis River is one of western Nova Scotia’s major rivers, stretching about 120 kilometres from Caribou Bog to the Annapolis Basin.
Its estuary is strongly influenced by the tides of the nearby Bay of Fundy, which is famous for having some of the highest tides in the world. A tidal range of about 7.5 meters means the water level in the estuary can rise and fall by the height of a two-story building between low and high tide.
Canadians generally follow British English conventions, so “kilometre” is the standard spelling in Canadian English, especially in formal writing, road signs, and official publications. The American spelling “kilometer” is recognized and sometimes appears in informal contexts or online content, but it is less common than “kilometre” in Canada.
