This ecoregion occupies most of the southwestern portion of the Nova Scotia mainland. The climate is marked by warm summers and mild, snowy winters. It is strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the most humid parts of the Maritime provinces. The mean annual temperature is approximately 6.5°C. The mean summer temperature is 14.5°C and the mean winter temperature is -1.5°C. The mean annual precipitation ranges 1200-1400 mm. This mixedwood forest region is composed of tall to intermediate, closed stands of red and black spruce, eastern hemlock, white and red pine, white birch, red maple, and red oak. Broad areas of brushland occur as a result of fire disturbance. On these areas, an open black spruce forest with scattered aspen, red maple, red oak, and white pine is common. Extensive bogs, fens, and swamps support stunted black spruce, larch, red maple, black ash, and alder. The uplands, as part of the Appalachian peneplain, consist of folded Palaeozoic slates and quartzites that form broad, sloping plains. The northern elevated portion of the region is underlain by an extensive granitic batholith. The ecoregion is covered by stony, discontinuous veneers and blankets of glacial till, drumlin fields, wetlands, and rockland barrens. Loamy Humo-Ferric Podzols dominate the ecoregion. Other soils include Ortstein Podzols on deep sandy tills, peaty Gleysols, Fibrisols on raised and flat bogs, and Organic Mesisols on fens. The ecoregion provides habitat for white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, porcupine, raccoon, fisher, red fox, coyote, and beaver. Moose are concentrated in the central part of the region. Forestry and some limited agriculture characterize the regional land use. The main community is Bridgewater. The population of the ecoregion is approximately 87 500.
This ecoregion is part of the Atlantic Maritime ecozone.