Nova Scotia Book of Musts by Lynch Allan;

Author:Lynch, Allan;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc.
Published: 2009-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley

52

Joggins

On winter days when we shiver and shovel, it’s hard to picture Nova Scotia as a lush tropical jungle and swamp, but that’s exactly what it was 300 million years ago. Long before those gigantic creatures in the Jurassic era wandered around knocking over trees and devouring everything in sight, scientists say Nova Scotia was on the evolutionary edge. It was not only covered in plant life but was also the site of invertebrate development, which 100 million years later became the start of the Jurassic period and the dinosaur.

It’s this pristine, abundant and rare natural history that has earned Joggins a World Heritage Designation from UNESCO. This distinction puts it on a list of unique places to be preserved and studied because of their importance to humanity and our understanding of the world. Other places on the list include the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapágos Islands. Now, students around the world and at home learn about Joggins, a place known to scientists as the Coal Age Galapagos.

The preservation area covers 15 km of cliffs and beach. Only the robust should consider hiking the whole area - and, as with anything along the Bay of Fundy, it’s key to watch the tides. You don’t want your day of exploration to become a search and rescue operation.

The new Joggins Fossil Cliffs centre offers daily tours of the site, but the timing is determined by the tides, so it’s best to call ahead and reserve or check their website. For those who want to do a self-guided tour, Jenna Boon, the Joggins Fossil Institute’s director, recommends studying the displays so you’ll recognize what you’re seeing on the cliffs. She says visitors can see three of the petrified coalage trees and most of the main fossil beds within five kilometers of the centre.

Details: The Joggins Fossil Cliffs centre is open May 17 to November 11 and the rest of year by appointment: jogginsfossilcliffs.net. The centre offers full visitor services, including interactive displays, café, gift shop, restrooms and a daily cliff tour (approximately two hours). There is an admission charge for the centre’s displays and one for the tour, with a discount available for those who do both. For information or to book a tour, call 902-251-2727, extension 231, or 1-888-932-9766, or email: [email protected]. The Joggins Fossil Cliffs centre is located at 100 Main Street. Joggins isn’t that big, just drive down towards the bay. You’ll find it or go over the cliff, which is still part of it.

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