Raine Island is a small, isolated piece of land in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is located east of Cape Breton Island, and is part of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.
The island was named after Captain James Raine, a Scottish-born officer in the Royal Navy who explored the area in 1789. Raine Island is home to a small community and several military installations, including a Naval Air Station and a Canadian Forces Base.
Contents
All About Of Raine Island
History
The island was first settled by the Micmac people in the early 18th century. The British government claimed the island in 1789, and established a penal colony there that year.
The settlement was abandoned after a few years, but resumed operations in 1803 as a naval prison. In 1820, Raine Island became part of Nova Scotia
In 1942, Raine Island was used as a military airbase during World War II. It was located near Canso on Cape Breton Island.
The air base was heavily used during the war to transport prisoners of war and host VIP visitors, among them King George VI, Winston Churchill’s status as Viscount Roosevelt of Anglesea in 1942 and Charles de Gaulle in 1945;
US Air Force General Douglas MacArthur visited Raine Island three times prior to his 1944 visit by submarine aircraft normally flying from Tutuila (Republic Of Samoa )
The end of World War II saw the closure of Raine Island Naval Prison and its conversion into a military training facility.
Climate
The climate of Raine Island is classified as oceanic, with a mean annual temperature of 10.4 °C and a mean annual precipitation of 520 mm.
The coldest month of the year is January, when the mean temperature lowers by 2.2 °C, and there are 19 days where temperatures drop below −12° C.
Raine is known as an “equinox island”, with two-thirds of its land area in a June to October growing season; this lasts 2–3 consecutive months depending on delayed spring frosts overwintering crops such as potatoes (see Potato Rustler or Potato Vole).
Raine is mostly void of snow in the winter; this may be because technically, this period extends through November with precipitation (onshore fog) or not.
Culture
The culture of Raine Island is influenced by the Mi’kmaq and the Scottish Highland people. The two groups have a long history of partnership, extending back to the early 16th century when Scottish explorer Christopher Columbus landed on Raine in what is now Gagetown.
During World War II, many members of both cultures served together on the island as prisoners or soldiers.
The population of Raine Island was 548 as recorded in the 2001 census. 50% of people are Aboriginal and 18.2% of the population identify as being part Scottish or Scottish-Canadian, though 96% consider themselves to be Islanders by race / ethnicity (2004 Census).
Of these, 51 percent hold Canadian citizenship while 49 per cent are residents with Nova Scotian Provincial grant of freedom; only 14 belong to Canada’s First Nations communities which still reserve land on Raine Island for aboriginal usage due to its relative isolation and the role of Raine Island as a central gathering place for Northwest Maritime cultural groups.
Politics
Raine Island is a member of the Council of the Federation. Economic activity on Raine Island centres around fishing and forestry, with some tourism also present. The ferry service connects the island to Yarmouth Port in southeastern Nova Scotia since 1956.
Agriculture and aquaculture are not major employers on Raine Island, although there has been recent growth in these sectors as a result of environmental regulations targeting mercury emissions from industrial fisheries; this has created new opportunities for commercial fishing, aquaculture and forestry.
The island hosts a lighthouse that is maintained by the Government of Canada through the Canadian Coast Guard. The light at Raine Island was erected in 1842 on “Dutchman’s Point”, which lies at.
Government Services
Raine Island is served by the Yarmouth County Regional Municipality and the Eastern Shore Regional School Board. Health care is provided on the island through a contract with Cape Breton District Health Authority.
There are two churches on Raine Island: The United Church of Canada which was erected in 1932, and St Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church which was erected in 1957.
Tourism
The only forms of tourism that are currently available on Raine Island are fishing and forestry tours. Fishing tours focus primarily on saltwater species such as haddock, cod and tuna while forestry tours explore the island’s forested interior.
There is also a small number of private cottages on the island that can be rented for vacation purposes. Fishing and forestry tours of Raine Island were first developed in 1967 by the Atlantic Marine Centre, a local fishing outfitter.
Transport
There is no public transportation on Raine Island. Visitors are limited to walking or biking around the island. There are no ferry services that link the island to mainland Nova Scotia, although supply boats periodically make their way across Narrows Passage to deliver diesel and other maritime supplies.
Conclusion
Raine Island is a small piece of land located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, northeast of Montreal. It was once used as a lumber yard and then as a naval base after Canadian Forces were deployed in the First World War.
After the Second World War, the island was used as an ammunition depot and then as a military training area. The island has been abandoned since the early 1980s, when it was decommissioned as a military base.
FAQs
1.What Is Raine Island’s Population?
Ans: There is no definitive answer to this question. According to the 2011 census, there were only nine residents living on the island.
However, it is possible that there are more people living on Raine Island than are officially counted due to its small size and limited infrastructure.
2.What Languages Do The Residents Of Raine Island Speak?
Ans: The majority of the residents of Raine Island apparently speak English as their primary language. However, it is not unusual for someone in the community to speak French.
3.Do People Live On Raine Island Because They Were Made To?
Ans: No, Raine Island seems like a place that was chosen by its residents themselves as opposed to being assigned by another citizen or group of citizens such as a military force.
4.How Big Is Raine Island?
Ans: The island’s area was listed as 6.6 hectares in the 2011 census, but this figure would likely be incomplete since it only accounted for roughly half of its actual land mass.
5.Which Section Of The Island Was Developed First, And Why?
Ans: The northern half of Raine Island is what appears to be more fully developed than the southern part. It may simply be because this portion has suffered less wear and tear as a result of being exposed to stronger winds.
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