The Strait of Canso – Facts

The Canso Causeway was built in the mid 1950′s and is located between mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island . The Canso Causeway is a permanent link between Cape Breton and mainland Nova Scotia. It forms the northern boundary of the Strait Superport and ensures that the south side of the Strait remains ice-free year round.

The Strait of Canso is the deepest natural ice-free harbour in North America and the second busiest port by tonnage in Canada. The Strait measures 20 km (12 miles) in length, 1.5 km (1 mile) in width, with an average depth of 60 metres (200 feet). The limiting depth is approximately 28 metres (92 feet). The main harbour of the Strait is capable of accommodating ultra-large carriers of the 500,000 tonne class. Ships satisfying the following criteria can be serviced at the Port:

Causeway Lock (maximum):

250m (820ft) long

24.4m (80ft) wide

9.8m (32ft) depth

Ships

(maximum):

224m (735ft) long

23.3m (76.5ft) wide

8.5m (28ft) depth

The Strait Superport is central to offshore resources (117 nautical miles from Sable Island ), North American and International shipping routes.

Traffic through the Strait of Canso includes cargos of manufactured goods, petroleum products, pulp, newsprint, supercalendered paper, gypsum, seafood, and construction aggregate.