The town of Cocagne was named after Cockaigne, a mythical paradise in medieval French literature. It is located at the mouth of the Cocagne River on the Northumberland Strait.
William Francis Ganong identified the Mi'kmaq name as Wijulmacadie, referring to a plant found along the river. In 1866 Cocagne was a farming community with about 65 families: in 1871 the community and surrounding district had a population of 900: in 1898 Cocagne was a sub-port of entry with a population of 250. A post office branch has been located here since 1837.
PLEASE PARK AND CROSS AT SURETTE STREET. (NOT at the north end of the Island where the ice may not be safe)
The island is a unique get-away where people swim in salt water, or sunbathe on a sandy beach. By blocking the north-east winds, the island has created a unique biodiversity and microclimate for the bay and for Cocagne river. Numerous bird species have made their home on the island and the bay area. there they nest, live, feed, far from human activity. You can find here Great Blue Herons, Ospreys, terns, swallows, Eider ducks, bald eagles and much more. The island is also home to larger wildlife such as deer, foxes, rabbits, mice, to name a few. More than 240 different species of plants thrive there, some of which are difficult to find in such excellent condition on the mainland.
The island is one of two unspoiled stretches of land remaining on Northumberland Strait.The island is well known for its mosquitoes, its blueberries, wild strawberries and cranberries. Until now each one of us has had easy access to Cocagne Island to enjoy, free of charge, its beaches, wild berries, and yes, even its mosquitoes! Both the island and the bay are well known for a variety of activites : camping, clam digging, swimming, oyster fishing, hiking, boating, as well as cross-country skiing. Apart from being a source for a wide variety of shellfish, commercial fishermen earn an income from mackerel, herring, smelts, lobster, while aquaculture continues to be a promising enterprise.
Definitely winter friendly but not sure if Spring, Summer, and Autumn friendly. In winter, you can cross the ice for this cache. Be aware of dangers on the ice, cross ONLY at Surette st. In summer you would have to kayak or take a boat, but the bugs and wet terrain may make this one difficult.
La cache est disponible en hiver, en traversant la glace. Soyez certain de l'épaisseur de la glace. Les autres saisons il faudrait un kayak ou un bateau, et il y a des moustiques et des marais a traverser.