The Rock Pile, Pictou County
The Rock Pile, Nova Scotia
The Rock Pile Geography
- Official Name: The Rock Pile
- Geographic Feature Type Category: Terrain Feature
- Geographic Feature Type: Shoal
- Affiliated Community: Cape John
- Latitude / Longitude: 45.814041, -63.154495
The Rock Pile Maps
- 1:50k Topographic NTS Map: 011E14
- 1:250k Topographic NTS Map: 011E
- 1879 Pictou County Atlas Map: Section 3
- Nova Scotia Land Grant Map: NS Land Grant map 085
- Nova Scotia 1:10k Topographic Maps: 1045800063100 (Cape John)
- Other:
About The Rock Pile
The Rock Pile is a well‑known shoal within Amet Sound, lying just off Cape John, it has long been marked on nautical charts as a navigational hazard.
This submerged terrain feature consists of a cluster of rocky outcrops and shallow ledges that rise close to the surface of the water, creating a natural obstruction for vessels entering or leaving the sound. Mariners historically had to exercise caution when passing near Cape John, as the Rock Pile’s position—combined with shifting sands and tidal currents—made it a point of risk for grounding. It remains a distinctive feature of Amet Sound’s coastal geography, illustrating the interplay of geology, glacial history, and marine processes that have shaped the shoreline of northern Nova Scotia.
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