Cabot Strait, Maritime channel between Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island, Canada.
Cabot Strait is a maritime channel in Canada that separates Newfoundland from Nova Scotia, running between Cape Ray on Newfoundland's western tip and Cape North on Cape Breton Island. It forms the main opening into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, where deep ocean water meets two very different coastlines.
The strait takes its name from John Cabot, the Genoese explorer who sailed along the northeastern coast of North America in 1497 under an English commission. In 1856, a submarine telegraph cable was laid across it, creating a direct communication link between North America and Europe.
Marine Atlantic ferries cross the strait on a regular basis, linking Newfoundland island to the mainland. For many residents, this crossing is part of everyday life, as it is often the most practical way to travel between the two landmasses.
Pack ice can form in the water during winter, which affects schedules and routes for vessels crossing the area. Anyone planning to travel through or near the strait should check weather conditions in advance, as delays are common outside the summer months.
Running through the strait is the Laurentian Channel, a very deep underwater trench that continues far into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. This deep water zone draws whales and other sea mammals that follow it as part of their migration routes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
