Cape Breton (Regional Municipality) / Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Regional Municipality

Phone : (214) 748-3647
Fax : (214) 748-3647
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Your Host(s) : Municipal Administration


320 Esplanade
Cape Breton (Regional Municipality), Nova Scotia
B1P 7B9


Nova Scotia Tourism Region : Cape Breton Island

Description From Owner:
  • John Cabot discovered Cape Breton in 1497 when the place was known by the Mi'kmaq as Oonamaagik, 'home of the Mi'kmaqs.' It was known to the Basques as Baccalaos, their word for codfish.
  • In 1603 Champlain called the island St. Lawrence Island and Vevazzano named it Isle Du Cap. In 1714 it was called Isle Royale.
  • Cape Breton is the oldest name in American geography and in 1621 Sir William Alexander transferred the island to his friend Sir Robert Gordon of Lochenvar. Sir Robert and his son obtained a royal charter and named the island the Barony of New Galloway.
  • The 10,311 sq. km island (approximately 175 km long and 135 km at its widest, 109 mi. x 84 mi.) was ceded to England in 1763 and formally annexed to Nova Scotia as part of Halifax County.
  • From 1784 to 1820, Cape Breton Island was a colony in its own right with a lieutenant-governor and appointed council but without an elected Assembly.
  • In 1820 it was re-annexed to Nova Scotia and considered to be Cape Breton County. In 1824 it was subdivided into three separate and distinct sections to be known as: Northeastern, Southern and North-western districts.
  • In 1835 the three districts were given county status and nai Breton County, Richmond County and Juste-au-Corps County, later County.
  • In 1852 Victoria County was separated from Cape Breton 1995 all municipal units within Cape Breton County were amalgamated form one 'super city,' the Reg. Mun. of Cape Breton.
  • Cape Breton has a stong and proud Scottish heritage expressed by lively performing arts and traditional crafts. 'Eilean Cheap Breatu-inn' is Scots Gaelic for Cape Breton Island
  • Cape Breton Highlands National Park: In 1934 Donald N deeded 40 hectares of land E of Pleasant Bay on condition ‘the government maintain a park in the intervale and construct a crofter's cottage such used on the Isle of Skye.'
  • By 1936 the 'Lone Shieling’ was constructed and became the nucleus for the park which stretches across the northern tip of Cape Breton Island.
  • The park now contains 950 sq. km of forested mountains, barrens, bogs, craggy red cliffs, stream-lined valleys and magnificent vistas of the sea. It is girdled by the Cabot Trail, a 298-km highway of breathtaking seascapes and landscapes.
  • With permission from 'Nova Scotia Place Names' David E. Scott 2015


Address of this page: http://ns.ruralroutes.com/CapeBretonRegionalMunicip



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    • The Skyline Trail

    ...in Cape Breton Highlands National Park is a popular hike for the outdoors set. The trail leads to a headland cliff which overlooks the rugged coast and provides a bird's-eye view of a stretch of the Cabot Trail.

    Whales can often be seen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence from viewing decks, Hiking the trail alone is not recommended as bear, moose and coyotes roam the area. In 2009 a 19-year-old Toronto woman walking alone was the victim of an extremely rare fatal attack by two coyotes, which normally are afraid of humans.

    There are two hiking options: a 7.5 km (4.7 mi) return loop or the back loop of 9.2 km (5.7 mi). The hike climbs to 405 metres (1,330 ft) and takes two or three hours.


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