Editing Oak Island (section)

==Geography==
===Climate===
{{main|Climate of Nova Scotia}}

The majority of Nova Scotia is a [[humid continental climate]] with hot and humid summers, and cold or frigid winters. While there is no [[weather station]] on the island or along [[Mahone Bay]], there is one towards the west in the town of [[Bridgewater, Nova Scotia|Bridgewater]]. The average annual temperature given in Bridgewater is {{convert|7.1|°C}}, while the precipitation runs at {{convert|1536.7|mm}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=996308&cityname=Bridgewater%2C+Nova+Scotia%2C+Canada&units=|title=Bridgewater, Nova Scotia|work=www.weatherbase.com|access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref> The island and surrounding coasts can be hidden in fog for as many as 90 days a year.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yo_xAgAAQBAJ&q=Climate+Oak+Island+nova+scotia&pg=PT245|title=The Unsolved Oak Island Mystery 3-Book Bundle|author=Lionel and Patricia Fanthorpe, Lee Lamb|publisher=Dundurn|date=Mar 4, 2014|isbn=9781459729018|access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref> These coasts are also vulnerable to powerful storms which include [[nor'easter]]s and [[List of Canada hurricanes|hurricanes]]. These harsh and unpredictable conditions deepen the mystery of Oak Island, making exploration that much more dangerous and difficult. 

===Ecology===
Oak Island is made up of a [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forest]], known regionally as the [[New England/Acadian forests]]. Wildlife in the Mahone Bay area includes [[great blue heron]]s, [[black guillemot]]s, [[osprey]], [[Leach's storm petrel]]s, and [[razorbill]]s. Non-specific [[eagle]]s and [[puffin]]s are also mentioned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mahoneislands.ns.ca/islands/|title=The Islands Today: Overview|work=Mahone Islands Conservation Association|access-date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> The [[roseate tern]] is considered an [[endangered species]] in the area and is protected by the [[Government of Canada|Canadian government]]. Efforts to restore their habitat, such as curbing the population of other bird species, have been undertaken.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/052/details-eng.cfm?pid=10038|title=Deterring Gull Nesting at Mahone Bay Tern Colonies|author=Environment Canada|work=Canadian Environment Assessment Agency|date=7 July 2008|access-date=February 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mahoneislands.ns.ca/islands/challenges.php|title=The Islands Today: Challenges|work=Mahone Islands Conservation Association|access-date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> The island is covered with [[Lupinus|lupine]], [https://www.prairiemoon.com/anaphalis-margaritacea-pearly-everlasting pearly everlasting], daisies, and [https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/queen-annes-lace-daucus-carota/ Queen Anne’s lace] flowers contributing to its natural landscape, ( Hempstead, 2025). 

===Geology===
The geology of Oak Island was first mapped in 1924 by J. W. Goldthwait of the [[Geological Survey of Canada]], who interpreted the island as a composite of four [[drumlin]]s.<ref name="Bathymetry Analysis">{{cite web|url=http://www.criticalenquiry.org/oakisland/fader_2.html|title=Bathymetry Analysis of the Oak Island area|author=Gordon B. J. Fader and Robert C. Courtney|work=www.criticalenquiry.org|access-date=February 6, 2019}}</ref> These drumlins are "elongated hills" which consist of multiple layers of [[till]] resting on bedrock and are from different phases of [[Glacial motion|glacial advance]] that span the past 75,000 years.<ref name="Archaeological Findings">{{cite web |url=https://www.oakislandtours.ca/uploads/5/0/8/8/50887171/a02_smiths_cove_oak_island_les_m_aug_2006.pdf |title=Review of Explorations, Archaeological Findings and Original Workings at Smith's Cove Oak Island, Nova Scotia|author=Les MacPhie and John Wonnacott|work=www.oakislandtours.ca|pages=7, 10, 12, 13, 17|date=August 12, 2006|access-date=February 6, 2019}}</ref> The layers on top of the [[bedrock]] are mainly made up of "Lawrencetown" and slate till. The former of these two is considered a type of [[clay]] till which is made up of 50% sand, 30% [[silt]], and 20% clay.<ref name="Archaeological Findings"/> In the main area that has been [[#Oak Island mystery|searched for treasure]] along with the till lie bits of [[anhydrite]] which become more [[Competence (geology)|competent]] deeper down. Researchers Les MacPhie, and John Wonnacott concluded that the deep deposits at the east end of the Island make up the drumlin formations.<ref name="Archaeological Findings"/>

There are two types of bedrock that lie under Oak Island; the southeastern portion consists of "[[Mississippian (geology)|Mississippian]] Windsor Group [[limestone]]" and [[gypsum]], and the northwestern part is [[Geologic time scale|Cambro-Ordovician]] Halifax Formation [[slate]].<ref name="Bathymetry Analysis"/> Oak Island and the area that is now [[Mahone Bay]] was once a [[lagoon]] 8,000 years [[Before Present|BP]], before the sea level rose with the melting glaciers.<ref name="Archaeological Findings"/> Dr. Ian Spooner of [[Acadia University]] has stated that the current triangular swamp on Oak Island was once a [[cove]]. Analysis done of core samples taken from the swamp show that a "significant [[Saline water|saltwater]] intrusion" occurred as recently as the late 1300s or early 1400s. While Spooner said that this was likely from "human manipulation", he did not rule out the possibility of an enormous storm.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAvADQAAQBAJ&dq=Oak+Island+ian+spooner&pg=PT432|title=2020 Postscript: The Search Continues|work=The Curse of Oak Island: The Story of the World’s Longest Treasure Hunt|author=Randall Sullivan|publisher=Atlantic Monthly Press|year=2018|isbn=9780802189059}}</ref>