Final answer:
The capital of Nova Scotia is Halifax, the site of the largest artificial explosion before nuclear weapons, known as the Halifax Explosion. The Tunguska event in 1908 in Russia released energy equivalent to powerful modern nuclear weapons without loss of life. Nuclear weapons range widely in explosive power, far surpassing historical explosions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The capital of Nova Scotia is Halifax. This city has historical significance as it was the site of the largest artificial explosion before the advent of nuclear weapons. The explosion occurred on December 6, 1917, when a French munitions ship collided with a Norwegian vessel in the Halifax Harbour. This incident is known as the Halifax Explosion.
Regarding large explosions, it's worth noting that a much larger atmospheric explosion took place in Russia in 1908, known as the Tunguska event. An asteroid about 60 meters in diameter released an energy equivalent to 10 megatons of TNT, which is comparable to the most powerful nuclear weapons of today.
This explosion took place over the Tunguska River in Siberia and, fortunately, was in an unpopulated area, preventing loss of life. The blast destroyed an area of forest roughly equal to the size of a major city.
When discussing explosions of tremendous power, nuclear weapons also come to mind. These weapons range in strength from the equivalent of around 100 tonnes to 20 million tonnes of TNT, showcasing the tremendous increase in explosive capacity in modern times compared to historical events like the Halifax Explosion.