HRM Monument #14: S.S. Mont Blanc Anchor Shaft

On December 6, 1917 one of the most horrific disasters in Canadian history took place when the French munitions ship, the Mont Blanc, collided with the Belgium relief ship, the Imo, just outside of Halifax Harbour. The spark from that collision caused an explosion, the equivalent of 3 kilotons of TNT, inside of the Mont Blanc blew it apart and destroyed a good portion of Halifax too.

This event that killed 2 000 people, left 6 000 completely homeless and 25 000 without adequate shelter, would come to be known as the Halifax Explosion. As a result of the magnitude of this explosion, a piece of an anchor shaft from the SS Mont Blanc, weighing 1140 lbs, flew 2.35 miles over Halifax and the Northwest Arm to a small park just behind Regatta Point Trail. It was relocated 200 metres and set in stone as the monument you see here.

HRM Point of Interest #8: Melville Island and Regatta Point Trail

Originally named the "Sandwich River," the Northwest Arm is a narrow inlet that separates Mainland Halifax from the downtown peninsula. Nearly all the way to the end of the Arm is the scenic Regatta Point Trail and the historic Melville Island.

Once the site of a War of 1812 British Prison, Melville Island (in the background of the above picture) is now a private boat club. The prison still stands, but is barely visible behind the trees and yachts, and is not accessible as Melville Island is now private property.

Today, the main reason to walk along the Regatta Point Trail beside Melville Cove, is to see the charming boats peacefully bobbing up and down on the water; their rhythmic undulations guaranteed to melt away any tensions brought on by a stressful day.