Bedford Basin

For the electoral district, seeBedford Basin (electoral district).

Bedford Basinis a large enclosedbay,forming the northwestern end ofHalifax HarbouronCanada'sAtlanticcoast. It is named in honour ofJohn Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.

An aerial view of Bedford Basin looking southeast.

Geography

Map highlighting key points around the Bedford Basin.

Geographically, the basin is situated entirely within theHalifax Regional Municipality(HRM) and is oriented northwest-southeast, measuring approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) long and 5 kilometres (3 mi) wide, surrounded by low hills measuring up to 160 metres (520 ft) in elevation, although most elevations range up to 30–60 metres (100–200 ft). The basin is fed by water from theSackville Riverand has a maximum depth of 71 metres (233 ft);The basin'sgeologichistory can be traced to theWisconsin Glaciationwhen it, along with "The Narrows", formed part of the pre-historicSackville Rivervalley.

The basin contains the following sub-basins:

• Bedford Bay, in the extreme northwest.
• Birch Cove, on the western shore.
• Fairview Cove, in the extreme southwest.
• Wrights Cove, on the eastern shore.

Bedfordon the northwestern corner takes its name from the basin, whileDartmouthsits on its eastern shore andRockinghamoccupies the majority of the western shore.AfricvillePark is situated on the southern shore near the entrance into The Narrows.

Shoreline development

The east shore of the basin is home to Burnside Industrial Park. Bedford Bay may be seen in the background.

The lands surrounding the basin are heavily developed with the only significant greenspace remaining being along the northeastern shore of the basin where a significant blast buffer zone surrounds Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Bedford (CFAD Bedford); this is theRoyal Canadian Navy'sweapons depotfor its Atlantic fleet, known asMaritime Forces Atlantic(MARLANT).

The south shore of the basin at Fairview Cove hosts one of Halifax's twocontainerterminalsas well as therailway yard,Pace Yard, operated byCanadian National Railway(CN).The east shore of the basin hostsBurnside Industrial Park,the largest industrial park in HRM,as well as a bulkgypsumterminal at Wrights Coveand theBedford Institute of Oceanography(which also derives its name from the basin) situated near the entrance to The Narrows.The vast majority of the western shore to the head of the basin is fronted by rail lines, behind which are a mix of residential/commercial and institutional developments.

History

Though inhabited by theMi'kmaqand theFrenchhaving known of the site since the 17th century, the basin was named forJohn Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford,who was the BritishSecretary of State for the Colonieswhen Halifax was founded in 1749.TheNorth American stationof theRoyal Navywas based just outside the entrance of the basin from 1759 to 1905, at theRoyal Naval Dockyards.The naval base served as the station's headquarters until 1818, when it became the summer headquarters of the station. Defences were built around the approach towards the basin's entrance, with the construction of theYork RedoubtatFerguson's Cove,as well asfortificationsonGeorges Island,andMcNabs Island.These defences were a part of theHalifax Defence Complex.In 1907, the Royal Naval Dockyards was transferred to the Government of Canada, and continues to operate asCFB Halifax.

A depiction of anAlliedconvoyin Bedford Basin during theSecond World War.Dazzle camouflagewas used prominently during the war in an effort to mislead enemies on a ship's course of direction, distance, and speed.

The basin played a key role during theFirstandSecond World Warswhen commercial shipping was being attacked by enemysubmarines.Given the size of thePort of Halifax,and its vicinity to Europe in contrast to other North American ports, the basin was used as an assembly point for transatlanticconvoysbound for Europe. With defences built just outside of the only access point into the basin (a strait called The Narrows), it provided a safe place to assemble convoys consisting of hundreds of merchant ships and their escorts in relative security, whiletorpedo netskept submarines at bay. In December 1917 the basin was the site of theHalifax Explosion,where two ships collided in the basin causing an explosion that levelled most of the surrounding area.

In 1994, the defences that protected Bedford Basin were designated aNational Historic Site of Canada,commemorating the assembly of convoys in Bedford Basin during the Second World War.In 2010, on the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy, a plaque was unveiled at Bedford Lake,Griesbach, Edmonton,Alberta, in recognition of the role played by Bedford Basin in the world wars.

"Bedford Basin is a large enclosed anchorage, forming the northwestern end of Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia on Canada's Atlantic coast. The basin is quite deep and the good holding ground on the basin floor makes it an ideal anchorage and a protected location for ships.

The Basin came to international significance during both the First and Second World Wars when the German navy began to use submarines as an offensive weapon against Allied shipping. Canada's prominent role in the First World War led to Halifax being chosen as the primary logistic port for resupplying Western Europe. The protected waters of Bedford Basin allowed the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy to assemble convoys consisting of hundreds of merchant ships in relative security while torpedo nets kept German submarines at bay. As observed By Rear AdmiralLeonard W. Murray(RCN), Halifax saw first hand the tragic loss of life amongst merchant seamen. The Basin was a daily witness to the grim war at sea. Stricken vessels limped back to port and seamen fold their stories of battle and the hazards of the North Atlantic convoy routes.

Today, CFB Halifax is located on the channel at the entrance to Bedford Basin and is the home of Canada's Atlantic fleet. "- Bedford Basin Memorial in Alberta

External links

Media related toBedford Basinat Wikimedia Commons