Prince Edward Island

Geography

The pigtails and freckly face of Anne of Green Gables adorn much of Prince Edward Island’s publicity material, and her creator, local-born novelist Lucy Maud Montgomery, was the island’s biggest fan, describing the place as floating “on the waves of the blue gulf, a green seclusion and haunt of ancient peace … invested with a kind of fairy grace and charm.” Rich soil and a temperate climate make Prince Edward Island an ideal place for mixed farming. Half of its land is under cultivation, earning it the nickname “the Garden Province.” It is renowned for its red soil, sand dunes and 800 kilometers of beaches. Prince Edward Island is the country’s smallest province in both area and population.

Climate
Prince Edward Island has a temperate climate with cold winters (mean January/February daytime high of -3°C/26°F) and warm summers (mean July/August daytime high of 23°C/73°F).

Industry
Agriculture, tourism and fishing are the financiers of Prince Edward Island. Most of the industrial labour is food processing, although the high-tech industry is becoming more important, especially in the medical, electronics and agricultural fields.

Prince Edward Island’s nutrient filled red soil is ideal for growing potatoes. Potatoes are the primary source of income for the province’s farms. Although lobster is the most important aquatic product in Prince Edward Island, many other fish and seafood species are harvested. The island’s beaches are very popular for those looking to flee the bustle of industrial civilization for relaxation and water sports.