Pictou County Atlas

Terrain Features: Point

A point in geographic terms is a relatively small extension of land into a body of water. Unlike capes or headlands, which are large and regionally significant, or heads, which are rugged promontories, points are often low lying or modest rocky outcrops. They are also more frequently named in local mapping traditions because they often serve as practical reference markers for fishermen, sailors, and coastal communities.

In Pictou County, places such as Black Point, Merigomish Point, and Roger Point on Pictou Island illustrate how these terrain features punctuate the shoreline, defining the entrances to coves and influencing tidal currents.

From a mapping perspective, points are carefully recorded on maps and nautical charts. These maps capture not only the outline of the coast but also associated terrain features such as tidal flats, reefs, and sandbars that often accompany points. For instance, a point may shelter a small beach or mark the edge of a reef system, making it important for navigation and resource use.

Points in Pictou County are modest but vital terrain features. They mark local navigation routes, shape the character of coves and harbours, and are preserved in detailed mapping systems that connect physical geography with cultural history. Together with capes and headlands, they form a layered coastal landscape that has guided settlement, fishing, and cartography for centuries

Note: Not all Terrain Features have official place names. Even there are many points located throughout Pictou County, very few have names included in the Canadian Geographic Names Database., if you know of some with local names that we have missed, then we encourage you to share that information with us so we can add the info to the atlas.

Terrain Features Sub Categories: Beach, Cape, Head, Hill, Island (Islet), Mount (Mountain), Patch, Point, Reef (Rocks / Shoal), Spit, Valley, Vegetation

Click here to return to the Pictou County Place Names Atlas

Some official place names in the Pictou County Atlas related to Points include:

Governor Head

in Head, Cape, Point, Terrain Feature

Governor Head is a small but prominent coastal headland located in the community of Egerton. Formed from the region’s characteristic low, rocky shoreline, the point marks part of the outer harbour and has long functioned as a recognizable geographic landmark for small‑craft navigation and local marine activity. Its position offers clear sightlines across Merigomish Harbour toward the Northumberland Strait, contributing to its role as a traditional reference point within the coastal landscape.

Roddys Point

in Point, Terrain Feature

Roddys Point is located along the Northumberland Strait in the community of Caribou River.

Ernies Point

in Point, Terrain Feature

Ernies Point is located along the Northumberland Strait east of Macquarrie Point in the community of Caribou River. It is one of several small headlands and points that define the gently curving coast of the Northumberland Strait in Pictou County.

Macquarrie Point

in Point, Terrain Feature

Macquarrie Point is located along the Northumberland Strait in the community of Caribou River. It anchors a section of shoreline shaped by tides, fishing traditions, and the warm waters of the Northumberland Strait. The point is labeled on the 1872 Northumberland Strait Map.

Powells Point

in Point, Terrain Feature

Powells Point, located in the community of Little Harbour, stands out as one of Pictou County’s underrated gems: a place where you can enjoy warm salt water, stroll through coastal woods, or simply sit at a picnic table and watch the tide roll in.

Fortyfour Point

in Point, Terrain Feature

Fortyfour Point, sometimes referred to locally as Point Forty Four, is a scenic coastal area in Little Harbour, known for its warm water beaches, natural sandbars, and peaceful rural setting.

MacNeils Point

in Point, Terrain Feature

MacNeils Point is located on the coastline of Little Harbour, a rural area dotted with cottages, wooded lots, and winding seaside roads.

Moodie Point

in Point, Terrain Feature

Moodie Point is a small coastal headland, set among a series of coves and inlets that line the county’s rugged shoreline. It is located along the south side of Pictou Harbour, in the community of Pictou Landing. The area is characterized by rocky shores, mixed forest close to the water, and several rural properties and access roads that tie the point into nearby communities.