Bras d'Or Lake

The Bras d' Or Lake ( sometimes called Bras d' Or Lakes or Bras d'Or Lakes System) is a 1,100 km ² large Canadian lake, which determines the center of Cape Breton Island. The lake is often referred to as estuary or bay of the Atlantic, as it is connected by two natural channels with the open sea and thus has fjord-like character with slight tidal and brackish water.

The name of the lake comes to the first French settlers back and is often translated as " golden arm of the sea ", but may be a corruption of Labrador The native Mi'kmaq gave the lake the name Pitu'pok ( approximate translation " salt water").

Part of the lake and its surroundings form a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which was established in 2011.

Geography

The Bras d'Or is approximately 80 km long, 30 km wide, almost completely surrounded by hills and low mountains and strongly divided. The southern part of the lake is connected to the northern part by only about 1 km wide Barra Street. A road and a railway bridge spanning this part of the lake.

The southern part of the Bras d'Or consists of a larger water surface area of ​​about 20 km in diameter and a few bays. The narrow isthmus of St. Peter separated until the construction of St. Peter Channels this part of the lake from the open sea. The northern part, however, is composed of three narrow arms and connected to the open sea by two natural channels, which enclose the Bouladerie island. Numerous small rivers and streams flow into the Bras d' Or Lake.

Due to the limited access to the sea tides and salinity of the lake are low. The salinity of the surface water decreases towards the east up to 20 ppm and is even lower near major tributaries and in sheltered bays. The Bras d'Or has typical estuary flows. Salty sea water flows into the depth in the lake, while low salinity surface water flows into the sea.

In winter, the lake is almost completely covered with ice. In the summer it heats up to about 15 ° C.

Geology

The current lake was formed by glacial retreat at the end of the last ice age about 10,000 years ago. Through various elevations and depressions of the land of Bras d' Or Lake was temporarily a closed freshwater lake from the sea. However, since about 4,500 years he has been reconnected to the sea.

As no exploration of the sea floor yet been carried out, based on the assessment of the subsurface investigations of the surrounding countryside. It is believed that the lake bed of sedimentary rock, mainly shale and sandstone. A gravity anomaly in the western bay indicates salt deposits underground.

The majority of the lake occupied a regional lowland, but some deep cuts (up to 280 m) may have been formed by glaciers during the Ice Age. Unusually are some of the cliffs which bound the sea because in them organic sediments are preserved from the last ice age. This can give research information about past climate conditions.

Flora and Fauna

The vegetation is similar to that in neighboring St. Lawrence Gulf. Because of winter ice plants of the intertidal come only at depth. In sheltered bays with lower salinity there are limited freshwater swamp vegetation.

The wildlife of the Bras d' Or Lake is made up of species from both southern and northern areas of. Thus, the polychaete fauna is about typical of temperate North American waters, but there are also arctic species present. Other representatives for warmer waters are the American oyster and sand shrimp. The fish fauna includes sticklebacks, herring, Greenland halibut and rainbow trout. These are the basis for a large population of water birds (eg Canada herons, cormorants and bald eagles ).

Culture

The Bras d' Or Lake is for the people of the Mi'kmaq of high cultural significance. On Chapel Iceland ( Mniku ), the Mi'kmaq Grand Council is (Great Council of the Mi'kmaq ). The island was declared in Canada to the historic site.

Furthermore, the environment of the Bras d' Or is a center of schottischstämmigen population of Nova Scotia.

Economics and Marine

Fishing and lobster is still operated on the lake; of economically far greater importance, however, aquaculture ( especially oysters and salmon ).

In the 19th and in the first half of the 20th century, the commercial shipping was very important. Various industrial products of Cape Breton Island were transported via the Bras d' Or Lake and the St. Peters Canal south to neuschottländischen mainland. Until the construction of modern roads and the lakeside places were supplied by coastal freighters. Currently shipping is limited to the transport of plaster and wood.

Tourism

Today, the Bras d'Or Lake is a favorite holiday destinations. The varied coastline with numerous bays and harbors, make the lake a popular spot for sailors. The communities around the lake offer numerous marinas and other facilities.

Environment

For the lake itself, the discharge of untreated wastewater is the biggest threat, because pollutants can accumulate due to the low water circulation. Furthermore, the development of the use of the bank restricts the habitat of the local wildlife for tourism and other purposes.

Others

The famous inventor Alexander Graham Bell had in Beinn Bhreagh on Bras d' Or Lake his summer residence. During this time he experimented with various unmanned aerial vehicles. These experiments eventually led to the AEA Silver Dart, which started on 23 February 1909 by the frozen Bras d'Or Lake and performed the first controlled powered flight in Canada and the British Empire.

In addition, Bell also worked on the development of hydrofoils. In 1919, the first official world speed record for watercraft has been erected on the Bras d'Or. In recognition of the achievements of AG Bell, the Canadian Navy named in the 1960s, their experimental fixed-wing ASW HMCS Bras d'Or.

Pictures of Bras d'Or Lake

143370
de