The Tantramar Marshes are on the southern part of the Isthmus of Chignecto, which joins Nova_Scotia to New_Brunswick and the Canadian mainland.

The marshes penetrate inland from the Bay of Fundy for 10 kilometers.

Acadians, who called the region Beaubassin, built dykes in the early 1700s to stop the tidal influx of salt water, creating rich agricultural land on the deep sedimentary soils.

The name Tantramar is derived from the Acadian French "Tintamarre", meaning 'din' or 'racket', a reference to the noisy flocks of birds which nest there.

The marshes are an important stopover for migrating waterfowl such as semi-palmated Sandpipers and Canada Geese. Today the marshes are the site of two bird sanctuaries.

In the past, the Tantramar marshes have been called the "World's Largest Hayfield" and many historic hay barns still dot the landscape.

The following rivers drain from and around the marshes:

• Aulac River
• LaPlanche River
• Missaguash River
• Tantramar River

Tantramar Region

Over time, the marshes have come to identify the overall inter-provincial region and include the following communities:

Nova Scotia

• Amherst
• Amherst Point
• East Amherst
• Fort Lawrence
• West Amherst

New Brunswick

• Aulac
• British Settlement
• Halls Hill
• Jolicure
• Middle Sackville
• Midgic
• Mount Whatley
• Point de Bute
• Sackville
• Upper Point de Bute
• Upper Sackville
• Westcock