Road map Southern Newfoundland with cities (Canada)

Southern Newfoundland.      

The Avalon Peninsula is as far east as you can go on land in  North America. At dawn, you can stand at its most easterly point, Cape  Spear Lighthouse, east of St. John's, and be the first in Canada to see  the sun rise. Southern Newfoundland is a mixed world. St. John's is a  bustling city that retains an old-world charm and pace, while the  eastern Avalon Peninsula sports spectacular scenery, seabirds, whales,  and icebergs. Fortune Bay offers a little slice of France in the islands  of St. Pierre and Miquelon, while Bonavista Bay guards relics of  telecommunication milestones of the past.      

Bonavista [A7] A modern town laid out like a medieval village,  Bonavista is on the peninsula where it is believed John Cabot landed on  June 24, 1497, and saw the "New Founde Lande." A replica of Cabot's  ship, the Matthew, built by local skilled tradespeople, can be seen on  the waterfront. The lighthouse (circa 1843) has been restored as a  museum, and The Dungeon at nearby Spillars Cove is a striking double  grotto formed by water erosion.      

Grand Bank [E4] Named for the Grand Banks, the continental  shelf that attracted fishermen to the island as far back at the 15th  century, Grand Bank retains the proud seafaring history of the Burin  Peninsula in places like the Southern Newfoundland Seaman's Museum and  the architecture of its homes, churches, and Water Street storefronts.      

St. John's [D8] Founded in 1583, Newfoundland's capital has  changed from the rough-and-tumble days of pirates and adventurers, but  remains a lively seaport with entertainment for every taste. Signal Hill  National Historic Site, named for signal flags used to alert merchants  to the arrival of cargo ships, is where Marconi received the first  wireless transatlantic signal in 1901. Boardwalks and trails around the  site are part of the Grand Concourse, linking walkways throughout the  urban area and beyond. The annual Regatta at Quidi Vidi Lake has been  going since 1828.      

St. Pierre and Miquelon [E4] Settled by the French in the  early 17th century, these islands represent the sole remaining vestige  of France's once vast North American possessions, and are a curious  oasis of French culture amidst the outports. The islands were used as a  gigantic warehouse during Prohibition; Canada would legally export  liquor to the French territory, where American rumrunners brought it  south a handful of small museums document the islands' past.      

Terra Nova National Park [B6-7] Numerous fjords indent 400 km2  of boreal forest and beautiful ocean coastline. Bears and moose roam,  rare orchids bloom, and eagles soar overhead. Visit the Marine  Interpretation Centre for boat tours, hiking information, and park  programs.      

Trinity [A6] North America's first court proceedings were held  in 1615, yet Trinity got its name much earlier, in 1501. A Portuguese  explorer sailed into the harbor and named it for the date, Trinity  Sunday. The Hiscock House represents a typical 1910 merchant's dwelling.      

Witless Bay and Cape St. Mary's ecological reserves [D8f E6]   Millions of seabirds nest on protected islands just offshore at Witless  Bay, the largest puffin colony in North America. Thousands of northern  gannets nest at Cape St. Mary's, the most accessible of 60 major seabird  colonies. Humpback and minke whales are frequently spotted; icebergs  can be seen as well.      

CITY GUIDE      

ST. JOHN'S ATTRACTIONS      

Cape Spear National Historic Site Commissariat House Fort  Amherst Signal Hill Newfoundland Museum C. A. Pippy Park Quidi Vidi  Battery Basilica of St. John the Baptist Fisheries and Marine Institute  of Memorial University James O'Mara Pharmacy Museum      

AIRPORT INFORMATION      

(709) 758-8500      

RADIO STATIONS      

VOCM 590 AM OZ FM 94.7 FM      

TOURISM OFFICE      

Tourist Information Centre, City Hall (902) 576-8455      

TOURISM WEB SITE      

www. city. st-john.nf. ca