Kejimkujik occupies a warm climatic pocket within colder peninsular Nova Scotia. The park’s growing season lasts 200 days and summer temperatures frequently hit 85F or higher. This explains the startling diversity of plants and animals found here. Twenty plant species, collectively known as the ccoastal plain flora, survive at the extreme northern limit of their range on the lake shores of Kejimkujik. These include water-pennywort and tiny yellow-or Purple-flowered bladderworts.

With lake water temperatures only a few degrees cooler than the surrounding air, summer swimming is delightful. Of the 46 lakes that dapple the landscape of Kedge, the best for swimming is Kejimkujik Lake itself, which has lifeguards and facilities, and Peskowesk Lake.

Animals in the park are prolific, diverse, and easy to spot. That is because Kedge’s microclimate makes it a haven for wildlife found nowhere else in Nova Scotia. Outside southern Ontario, Kedge is the only place in Canada that provides habitat for the northern ribbon snake.

Considerably more common are black bears, white-tailed deer, porcupines, beavers, coyotes, and American marten. Bird-watchers will delight in the chance to view some 200 species.