Bucket List: Grand Manan

Grand Manan Island on the border of New Brunswick and Maine is the largest island in the Bay of Fundy.  Much of its land mass is made up of volcanic basalt that underlies most of the bay and the western coast of Nova Scotia.  The name of the island is a derivation of a First Nations word meaning "island place".  The Passamaquoddy nation in particular referred to themselves as "people of the island" and considered it a sacred place.

It's thought that 15th Century explorers Sebastian Cabot and Gaspar Corte-Real made note of the island, but it doesn't appear on maps until 1558 when cartographer Diogo Homem made his first comprehensive map of the New World.  A number of explorers came afterwards and traded with the First Nations, in particular Samuel de Champlain.  The island was claimed by the French and remained in their possession until handed to Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.

Despite a permanent settlement being established on the island in 1784, the United States and Britain would squabble over ownership until 1817 when it became part of what would be New Brunswick.  The island's economy has changed little over time, being dependent on fishing, aquaculture, and tourism.  It is only reachable by ferry and small aircraft, and its inhabitants are known to loyally guard their "Fundy Oasis" and preserve its beautiful setting.

Official web site www.grandmanannb.com