How can the North of Nova Scotia be warmer? Don't you have ice-bergs up there?   One hour and thirty minutes North from Halifax International Airport lies a body of water known as the Northumberland Strait. Filled with fish, lobster and oysters, fisherman and the Mi'kmaq people have enjoyed the fruits of this warm water - warm due to it's shallowness, heated quickly by the sun. The warmth prevents fog and the North Shore of Nova Scotia has near zero fog days per year. The micro-climate allows a variety of fruits and even vineyards to flourish producing the worlds main crop of blueberries and internationally acclaimed wine from Jost Vineyards.   Add friendly,hospitable people, low crime rates, empty roads, a spring full of wild flowers, hot summers, beautiful Fall colours to rival New England, a Ski Resort good enough to hold the Canada Games, 5 star Fox Harb'r Golf Resort and Spa and photo opportunities at every turn and you have a combination that will keep you here for ever.   Temperatures on the North Shore Summer 28C  (feels like 32C) Winter - 8C     (feels like -4) Spring 20C     (feels like 24C) Fall 18C         (feels like 20C)   Shopping   Truro, Amherst, New Glasgow are the larger towns with Charlottetown (PEI) and Moncton (New Brunswick) within reach, with Dartmouth Crossing, the largest designer retail outlet and entertainment centre in Canada just 2 hours drive. Locally there are supermarkets, Farmers Markets, Farms, Orchards and, of course, Yard Sales full of hidden treasures and antiques!   Capital: Halifax Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (One defends and the other conquers) Flower: Mayflower Population(1998): 936,092 The Land Nova Scotia's 580-kilometre-long peninsula is surrounded by four bodies of water - the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of Fundy, the Northumberland Strait and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Its geographic location, together with large, ice-free, deep-water harbours, has been a key factor in the province's economic development.   Nova Scotia is a mosaic of rugged headlands, tranquil harbours and ocean beaches. Its indented shoreline stretches 10 424 kilometres, while inland is a myriad of lakes and streams. The land is framed by the rocky Atlantic Uplands, the Cape Breton Highlands and the wooded Cobequid Hills. The agricultural areas of Nova Scotia are predominantly lowlands. When the glacial ice withdrew from coastal Nova Scotia 15 000 to 18 000 years ago, the ocean flooded ancient river valleys and carved out hundreds of small protected harbours which later became fishing ports. The People Nearly one-quarter of Nova Scotia's population of approximately 941 000 report the British Isles as their place of ethnic origin. Significant portions of the population also report either French or European origins.   Many residents of Nova Scotia are of German, Dutch, Polish, Italian, Jewish and Lebanese descent. After the War of 1812, several thousand Black people, including the Chesapeake Blacks, settled in the Halifax area; in 1996, more than 18 000 residents of the province reported having Black origins. More recent immigrants to Nova Scotia have included Chinese, Indo-Chinese, African, Asian and eastern European groups.   Economy   Nova Scotia's economy is highly diversified, having evolved from resource-based employment to include many types of manufactured goods as well as business and personal services. Tourism is an important sector in the provincial economy. Total tourism receipts exceed $1 billion and over 30 000 people are employed in the many aspects of the industry. More than two million people visit the province each year, with almost one quarter of these coming from outside Canada.   *Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003.