How New Brunswick's Borders Were Defined

New Brunswick is a province of Canada, located in the eastern part of the country. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia to the east and south, Quebec to the north, and Prince Edward Island. New Brunswick also shares an international border with the US state of Maine to the west. The province's southern border is defined by the Bay of Fundy, which is known for its high tides and unique ecosystems. The Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait form New Brunswick's eastern border, which is entirely coastal.

Border with Prince Edward Island

New Brunswick shares a border with Prince Edward Island (PEI), the smallest province in Canada by land size and population. PEI is the only province in Canada with no land border, but the two provinces are linked by the 13-kilometre-long Confederation Bridge, which begins in Bordon-Carleton, PEI, and ends in Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick. The PEI-New Brunswick border is the midpoint of the Northumberland Strait, located south of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait form New Brunswick's eastern border, which is entirely coastal. The border is characterised by sunny and sandy beaches and magnificent scenery. The Northumberland Strait is also home to the Confederation Bridge, which is among the world's most famous bridges.

Prince Edward Island is part of the Maritimes, a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The Maritimes are located along the Atlantic coast and, together with Newfoundland and Labrador, make up the region of Atlantic Canada. The Maritimes had a population of 1,899,324 in 2021, which is 5.1% of Canada's population.

The Maritime provinces are defined by their proximity to the sea, with all three provinces bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The region is located northeast of New England in the United States, south and southeast of Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula, and southwest of the island of Newfoundland.

The notion of a Maritime Union has been proposed at various times in Canada's history, with the first discussions taking place at the Charlottetown Conference in 1864, which contributed to the formation of the larger Dominion of Canada.

Border with Nova Scotia

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, two of Canada's thirteen provinces and territories, share a border. Nova Scotia borders New Brunswick to the east or south, depending on the source. The two provinces were partitioned in 1784, with the Missaguash River acting as the boundary between them. The river's meandering watercourse featured an oxbow, a U-shaped bend that wrapped almost entirely around a teardrop-shaped parcel of land.

In the 1950s, a new channel was dug in the Missaguash River, shifting the river to the north of the five-hectare parcel of land. This engineering work resulted in a jurisdictional anomaly, as the parcel of land now sits on the Nova Scotia side of the river but is officially part of New Brunswick. This anomaly arose because a boundary defined by a natural geographic feature can only move through "slow and imperceptible" natural causes such as accretion or erosion. If a river is altered artificially, the boundary remains with the original riverbed.

The two provinces are linked by the Isthmus of Chignecto and Chignecto Bay. The Bay of Fundy, known for its high tides, defines New Brunswick's southern border with Nova Scotia.

Border with Quebec

New Brunswick shares a land border with Quebec to the north, located at the Chaleur Bay and Restigouche River. The border between the two provinces was the subject of a dispute several centuries ago, which was eventually resolved through arbitration in 1851.

The border communities have historically shared close ties, with residents frequently crossing the interprovincial J.C. Van Horne Bridge for work, school, and other services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions caused friction between the communities, particularly for the Listuguj First Nation, which is considered part of a larger community with Campbellton, a town in New Brunswick.

The border region has a rich history of cross-border interactions, including stories of bootlegging during Prohibition and tobacco smuggling in the 1980s and 1990s. The shared border with the United States has also influenced life in this area.

The northern bubble, which includes Quebec's Avignon Regional Municipality on the Gaspé Peninsula and Témiscouata, bordering the Edmundston area in New Brunswick, has experienced a loosening of travel restrictions in recent years. This has been welcomed by communities on both sides, fostering cultural exchange and economic opportunities.

Border with the US state of Maine

New Brunswick shares a border with the US state of Maine to its west. The border with Maine is an international border. The Canadian province and the US state share a 611-mile (983-kilometre) border with 24 land border crossings. These include major truck portals such as Calais/St. Stephen, Madawaska/Edmundston, and Houlton/Woodstock Road.

Crossing the border between New Brunswick and Maine requires an inspection by Immigration and Customs, which can include a vehicle inspection. Citizens of other countries may need a passport and/or visa. The requirements for entry differ for pedestrians and motor vehicles, boats, and aircraft. For example, different ports of entry may be required depending on the mode of transportation.

Persons crossing the border must carry proof of identity and citizenship. In most cases, this is a passport. Additional documentation can include a birth certificate, naturalisation certificate, citizenship certificate, or a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license). Canadian citizens entering the US must have proof of Canadian citizenship, such as a valid Canadian passport.

US citizens entering Canada must have proof of US citizenship, such as a US birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship, or a naturalisation certificate with a valid photo ID. Children must have identification and be accompanied by an adult. If one parent is travelling with their child, they must have a letter of permission containing the contact information of the other parent or legal guardian.

Ocean border with the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Fundy

New Brunswick, one of Canada's thirteen provinces and territories, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Fundy to the east and south, respectively. The province's southern border is located at the Bay of Fundy, which is known for having the highest tides in the world. The Bay of Fundy's tides create dynamic environments such as the Hopewell Rocks and the Reversing Falls Rapids in Saint John.

The province's eastern and southern regions feature extensive coastal plains, including the Acadian Peninsula, Chaleur Bay, and the Northumberland Strait. The Northumberland Strait forms New Brunswick's eastern border with Prince Edward Island, which is entirely coastal and characterised by beautiful beaches and scenery. The Confederation Bridge, one of the world's most famous bridges, connects New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island.

New Brunswick's ocean border also includes the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast. The province's southeast corner is connected to Nova Scotia at the Chignecto Isthmus, which forms part of its southern border. The Chignecto Isthmus and Chignecto Bay link Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

The coastal regions of New Brunswick often experience milder winters and cooler summers compared to inland areas. The province's climate is generally humid continental, with warm summers, cold winters, and ample precipitation.

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