Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton
Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
Geography
Cape Breton Island (Nova Scotia)
Location
Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates 46°10′N 60°45′W / 46.167°N
60.75°W / 46.167; -60.75
Area
10,311 km2 (3,981 sq mi) (77th)
Highest
point
White Hill (532 m (1,750 ft))
Country
Canada
Province
Nova Scotia
Largest city Sydney
Demographics
Population
147,454 (as of 2001)
Density
14.30 /km² (37.0 /sq mi)
Cape Breton Island (French: île du Cap-
Breton - formerly île Royale, Scottish Gaelic:
Eilean Cheap Breatuinn, Míkmaq: Úna-
makika, simply: Cape Breton) is an island on
the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely
corresponds to the French word "Breton", re-
ferring to Brittany.
Cape Breton Island is part of the province
of Nova Scotia, Canada. Although physically
separated from the Nova Scotia peninsula by
the Strait of Canso, it is artificially connected
NASA landsat photo of Cape Breton Island
to mainland Nova Scotia by the Canso Cause-
way. The island is located east-northeast of
the mainland with its northern and western
coasts fronting on the Gulf of St. Lawrence;
its western coast also forming the eastern
limits of the Northumberland Strait. The
eastern and southern coasts front the At-
lantic Ocean; its eastern coast also forming
the western limits of the Cabot Strait. Its
landmass slopes upward from south to north,
culminating in the highlands of its northern
cape. A saltwater estuary, Bras d’Or Lake,
dominates the centre of the island.
The island is divided into four of Nova
Scotia’s eighteen counties: Cape Breton, In-
verness, Richmond, and Victoria. Their total
population as of the 2001 census numbered
147,454 "Cape Bretoners"; this is approxim-
ately 16% of the provincial population. Cape
Breton Island has experienced a decline in
population of approximately 6.8% since the
previous census in 1996. Approximately 72%
of the island’s population is located in the
Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM)
which includes all of Cape Breton County and
is often referred to as Industrial Cape Breton