Citadel denuded

Halifax was one of the most heavily treed cities in North America, with approximately 40% coverage. Tens of thousands of healthy trees were lost, like this one on Citadel Hill.

The Citadel was the keystone in the defence of one of the most important harbours in the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. For over ten years of the 20th century, the harbour was central to the prosecution of the wars against Germany. Three-quarters of the tonnage destined for Britain between 1939 and 1945 passed through Halifax.