Geography of Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada has a widely varied geography.
Physical geography
Halifax Regional Municipality is geographically large. At of total landmass, the maximum north-south distance of the municipality is approximately while its maximum east-west distance is approximately. Travel along its shoreline by road between its southwesterly point in Hubbards to its north easterly point in Ecum Secum is approximately.The topography of Halifax varies as its size suggests. It has of coastline with many sandy beaches and features many coves and inlets. Inland contains vasts forests featuring many drumlins and low hills. The highest point within the municipality is Blue Mountain Summit in Hammonds Plains at. The Musquodoboit Valley subregion includes over of fertile agricultural land.
There are many peninsulas along the coast of Halifax Regional Municipality. The Chebucto Peninsula, created by the indentations of Saint Margaret's Bay and Halifax Harbour, is a defining feature for the shape of the coastline at the western portion of the municipality, from which the Halifax Peninsula forms a sub-peninsula.
Natural bays and harbours are throughout Halifax. Cow Bay, Saint Margaret's Bay, and Terrance Bay are the major bays. Beaver Harbour, Cole Harbour, Halifax Harbour, Indian Harbour, Jeddore Harbour, Ketch Harbour, Little Harbour, Musquodoboit Harbour, Pleasant Harbour, Popes Harbour, Prospect Harbour, Sambro Harbour, Sheet Harbour, and Ship Harbour are the major harbours.
Over twenty rivers flow through Halifax
. The Chezzetcook, Musquodoboit, and Sackville rivers combined are over in length.
Despite being located southeast of Halifax Regional Municipality, Sable Island is part of the Halifax Regional Municipality. There are many hundreds of islands offshore of Halifax Regional Municipality. 100 Islands Wilderness off the coast of Eastern Halifax Regional Municipality contains 282 islands over an area of approximately of which approximately is land.
Urban geography
Halifax contains a population centre which is built on a series of hills and plateaus which surround Halifax Harbour. The community of Halifax lies on its namesake peninsula and extends from the Chebucto peninsula. Dartmouth is clustered on the eastern side of the harbour directly opposite the Halifax peninsula, its defining geographic feature being a series of glacial lakes. Bedford is north of the Bedford Basin.There are many urban communities-and-environs which make up the urban fabric of Halifax. As of the 2021 Canadian Census, the built-up area consists of, has 162,336 dwellings, and is home to 348,634 people. The built landmass increased by compared to the 2016 Census.
Climate
Halifax is marked by a humid continental climate, but the area climate is heavily influenced by water temperatures in the adjacent Atlantic Ocean. Numerous local microclimates make weather somewhat unpredictable but the region is generally milder than inland areas having a continental climate ; air temperatures averages are in January to in July.Precipitation stands at approximately annually, and is somewhat heavy year-round, though summer is drier.
Snow falls and melts alternately mainly from November through April, for a seasonal total of approximately. Some, but usually very little, snow falls in May and October. Halifax usually experiences several strong winter storms. A blizzard in February of 2004 had sustained winds in excess of, produced wind gusts over, and precipitated of snow. This storm was nicknamed "White Juan", as it was recently after Hurricane Juan in September of 2003.
Spring is cool and foggy. Between March and May, roughly of precipitation is produced which is an average amount for Halifax.
Summer can range from hot and dry to cool and rainy. Hurricanes are fairly uncommon but do occur occasionally. There can be considerable variations between the weather near the Atlantic Ocean and the weather even several kilometres inland. This is partly caused by the effect of the Labrador Current, which transfers cold water from the Arctic along Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast in the spring and summer, while the Gulf Stream brings warmer water from the Gulf of Mexico along the coast during the fall and winter.
Autumn is often sunny and warm. Temperatures commonly reach during daytime during September.
The Halifax Regional Municipality is home to 6 weather stations operated by the Meteorological Service of Canada: