Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located in the middle of the southeast coast of the Nova Scotia Peninsula and is the largest port city in the Atlantic coastal provinces. Its urban population is about 415,000 and the population of the metropolitan area is about 400,000, accounting for about 1/3 of the province's population. It has the world's second largest natural deep-water port and an important strategic location, known as the "Guardian of the North".