There are some amazing places outside our borders to see and photograph, but as I look around Nova Scotia I'm constantly in awe of the incredible diversity that surrounds us.
Like us, many places in the world boast of their seacoasts, but in Nova Scotia we have many and varied coastlines. Our Atlantic shores are different than the Bay of Fundy; the Northumberland shore is different from the Cape Breton coast.
Over the years I've taken pictures of Nova Scotia beaches that reminded people of Florida, minus the palm trees. I've photographed Fundy rock formations that reminded people of the American southwest, and some of my Cape Breton pictures bear a remarkable resemblance to the Oregon coast which I've also photographed.
That diversity extends to the tiny northern Cape Breton community of Cape North where you can divert a few hundred feet off the Cabot Trail to witness a moonscape here on earth. Of course, that's no news to Cape Bretoners who will readily tell you that their island is the next thing to heaven.
Cape North was once a thriving gypsum mining community and evidence of that past can be found near the North Highlands Nordic Centre, one of the top cross country skiing destinations in eastern Canada.
In the Winter the land is carpeted with snow and a haven for cross country skiers, but in the Spring, the snow gives way to another covering of white . . . gypsum. If it weren't for the background trees and mountains, the viewer of photographs could be easily be fooled into thinking it's still Winter. Just take a look . . .
Gypsum formations cover the ground at Cape North like a blanket of snow
This is a winter view in the same area. Notice the gypsum deposits peaking through the snow above the skiers
In many places the gypsum has heaved up to make these small igloo-like mounds.
A closeup view of a lone autumn leaf on gypsum shards that litter the ground. Be careful handling them as they have razor-sharp edges.
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