The Northwest Arm, originally named Sandwich River, is an inlet in eastern Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 off the Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...

 in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

's Halifax Regional Municipality.

Geography

Part of Halifax Harbour

Halifax Harbour

Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...

, it measures approximately 3.5 km in length and 0.5 km in width and defines the western side of the Halifax Peninsula

Halifax Peninsula

The Halifax Peninsula is a community and planning area located in the urban core of Halifax Regional Municipality in the province of Nova Scotia. Halifax Peninsula is home to Downtown Halifax, the financial and economic heart of the region, which was also the site of the original settlement and...

. The waterway is oriented along a bearing of 135º (southeast) and 315º (northwest).

The Northwest Arm contains several small islands including Melville Island, home of the Armdale Yacht Club

Armdale Yacht Club

The Armdale Yacht Club is a yacht club located on Melville Island at the head of Halifax Harbour's Northwest Arm in Nova Scotia Canada. Although only 60 years old itself, the club's property has a history dating to 1732.-Melville Island:...

, and Deadman's Island

Deadman's Island, Halifax

Deadman's Island is a small peninsula containing a cemetery and park located in the Northwest Arm of Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia, Canada.It was first known as "Target Island" after use by the British military for target practice....

, at the northwestern end near Armdale

Armdale, Nova Scotia

Armdale is a Canadian urban community located in Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia.Situated at the head of the Northwest Arm, from which it derives its name, Armdale borders the southern part of an isthmus connecting the Halifax Peninsula with the larger Chebucto Peninsula.-History:The...

.

There is a public beach (the only one on the Arm) located at Sir Sanford Fleming Park which has only recently been deemed safe for swimming since the Harbor Solutions Project began operations in 2008.

History

The Mi'kmaq Nation called this water body "Waygwalteech" which translates to "salt water all the way up". Early English settlers called it the "Sandwich River" and also the "Hawkes River".

The Mi'kmaq people attacked the British blockhouse on the Northwest Arm numerous times during Father Le Loutre's War

Father Le Loutre's War

Father Le Loutre’s War , also known as the Indian War, the Micmac War and the Anglo-Micmac War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia. On one side of the conflict, the British and New England colonists were led by British Officer Charles...

. In 1751, there were two attacks on blockhouses surrounding Halifax. Mi'kmaq attacked the North Blockhouse (located at the north end of Joseph Howe Drive) and killed the men on guard. They also attacked near the South Blockhouse (located at the south end of Joseph Howe Drive), at a saw-mill on a stream flowing out of Chocolate Lake into the Northwest Arm

Northwest Arm

The Northwest Arm, originally named Sandwich River, is an inlet in eastern Canada off the Atlantic Ocean in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.-Geography:...

. They killed two men. (Map of Halifax Blockhouses)

In 1753, when Lawrence became governor, the Mi'kmaq attacked again upon the sawmills near the South Blockhouse on the Northwest Arm, where they killed three British. The Mi'kmaq made three attempts to retrieve the bodies for their scalps.
It was officially named the North West Arm on 1 March 1921 and it was changed to Northwest Arm on 4 April 1933.

Shoreline development

Much of the shoreline of the Northwest Arm, referred to locally as "the Arm," is fronted by private residences.

The Northwest Arm is the location of several parks, notably Point Pleasant Park

Point Pleasant Park

Point Pleasant Park is a large, partially forested municipal park at the southern tip of the Halifax peninsula. It once hosted several artillery batteries, and a well-preserved 18th century Martello tower can be found there...

 at the southern entrance to the Arm on the Halifax Peninsula. Sir Sandford Fleming Park

Sir Sandford Fleming Park

Sir Sandford Fleming Park, known locally as The Dingle Park , is a urban park located in the Halifax Regional Municipality in the subdivision of Jollimore, Canada....

 on the western shoreline contains the Dingle Memorial Tower which commemorates the 150th anniversary in 1908 of the establishment of responsible government in Nova Scotia; the first location in the British Empire

British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

 to do so. Deadman's Island Park

Deadman's Island Park

Deadman's Island Park is a Canadian urban park located on Deadman's Island in the Northwest Arm of Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality....

 commemorates American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 soldiers who died while imprisoned on the island during the War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

.

The Atlantic School of Theology

Atlantic School of Theology

The Atlantic School of Theology is a Canadian ecumenical university which provides "graduate level theological education and research, and in formation for Christian ministries, lay and ordained, in church and society, primarily in Atlantic Canada". It is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia and its...

 also maintains its campus along the southern part of the arm.

The Northwest Arm is the location of four marinas:

• Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron
  Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron
  The Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron is a yacht club located on the Northwest Arm of Halifax Harbour in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Primarily a sailing club, the RNSYS also offers instructional programs and on water activities for all ages....
  
  
• Armdale Yacht Club
  Armdale Yacht Club
  The Armdale Yacht Club is a yacht club located on Melville Island at the head of Halifax Harbour's Northwest Arm in Nova Scotia Canada. Although only 60 years old itself, the club's property has a history dating to 1732.-Melville Island:...
  
  
• Waegwoltic Club
• Marlborough Woods Yacht Club