In 1497 John Cabot anchored at Cape Breton Island, just west of the teeming Atlantic fishing banks. By the time Britain defeated France in North America in 1763, thousands of French-speaking Acadians had been expelled. New Englanders replaced them, many settling in the fertile Annapolis Valley. Immigration of Scottish Highlanders began in 1773, and annual events such as the Nova Scotia International Tattoo preserve their heritage.

The sea still largely defines life on this 550-kilometer-long peninsula with 7,500 kilometers of coastline. Lobster, scallops, and haddock are major exports. Lumbering and industry, from textiles to aircraft engines, diversify the economy. Ice-free Halifax, Atlantic Canada's most populous city, also contains the country's largest naval and coast guard bases.

The water in Northumberland Strait is the warmest for ocean swimming in the province. The Bay of Fundy, with the world's highest tides, is one of Nova Scotia's main tourist attractions.