Most of the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia consists of
sandstone and
shale bedrock, forming rolling hills, which are up to in elevation and many offshore islands, of which two of the largest are Wolfes Island and Barren Island. The Eastern Shore is heavily forested. Approximately inland from the coast is the Eastern Shore Granite Ridge. This is an expansive area of 350-million-year-old
granite bedrock.
Waterways Several major rivers flow into the coast along the Eastern Shore, including the
Musquodoboit River, which flows into the
Musquodoboit Harbour, Jeddore Harbour, Tangier River, which flows from
Tangier Grand Lake to the Atlantic, West River Sheet Harbour, which flows into the Northwest Arm of
Sheet Harbour, as well as East River Sheet Harbour into the Northeast Arm. The
St. Mary's River also flows into the Atlantic, passing through the community of
Sherbrooke. There are many lakes, ponds, flowages and other types of freshwater bodies along the Eastern Shore. The largest of which are
Porters Lake, which flows almost directly into the Atlantic Ocean,
Lake Charlotte, which flows into Ship Harbour via the Ship Harbour River and
Tangier Grand Lake, There also numerous, albeit much smaller, bays, harbours and other coastal features along the Eastern Shore, including but not limited to:
Musquodoboit Harbour, Tor Bay and Guysborough Harbour. The Eastern Shore is a scenic, yet sparsely settled area, hosting dozens of small fishing harbours and communities; in recent decades the region has become home to a growing number of cottages and recreational properties, given the number of unspoiled sandy beaches and dramatic coastlines. The shore also hosts the majority of Nova Scotia's small islands. The tourism industry is concentrated near popular beaches and provincial parks such as Lawrencetown, Clam Harbour, and Martinique, as well as the centrally located service communities of
Musquodoboit Harbour,
Sheet Harbour,
Sherbrooke,
Canso,
Guysborough and
Mulgrave. Popular tourist attractions include the Liscombe Lodge resort and conference centre in
Liscomb Mills and the Historic Sherbrooke Village in
Sherbrooke. ==Demographics==