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Grand Manan

Grand Manan Island

Thirty-five kilometres (22 mi.) off the coast of New Brunswick, Canada, lies the Island of Grand Manan - the punctuation mark at the end of the Canada-United States border.

One of the island's links to the mainland is a ferry that sails from the New Brunswick port of Black's Harbour. During the 90 minute crossing, passengers watch the mainland fade into a thin blue strip on the horizon.

They begin to understand the intrigue of isolation the island holds. On a clear summer day, porpoise play in the bay and sightings of whales from the passenger decks are not uncommon.

The beacon of Swallowtail light greets visitors as they sail near the bustling fishing community of North Head. Twenty-four kilometres (15 mi.) long and 11km (7mi.) wide, the island offers a lot of territory for guests to explore.

The 3,000 islanders at home in Grand Manan live almost exclusively along the eastern face. Here lush fields of wild flowers burst into bloom along the shores. Nurtured by seacoast air, meadows burst into rich and vibrant color. Neatly painted homes and shops hug the coves, mirroring a thriving, centuries-old fishing industry.

On the western shores, cliffs rise in dizzying splendour. Gnarled and twisted trees cling to the rocky soil. With the exception of Dark Harbour, the western side of the island is an inaccessible wall; uninhabitable.

Driven by the famous giant tides of the Bay of Fundy, the water around Grand Manan is nurturing, yet violent. The rich waters are home to an abundant variety of marine life that has kept island fisheries thriving for generations. Beneath the surface lie many a testament of the ocean's unforgiving side. Over 300 vessels have been wrecked around the island over the past two centuries.