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Tourism
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| The Oldest City in North
America |
| For more than 500 years St.
John's has been visited by European explorers, adventurers,
soldiers and pirates. St. John's, the provincial capital, is
the economic and cultural centre for Newfoundland and Labrador.
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| First discovered
in 1497 by John Cabot and later claimed as the first permanent
settlement in North America for the British Empire by Sir
Humphrey Gilbert, St. John's has a rich and colourful history.
St. John's offers an enticing combination of old world charm,
unique architectural, historic and natural attractions, top
notch facilities and services, and is located in close
proximity to spectacular coastlines, historic villages and a
diverse selection of wildlife |
| Signal Hill National Historic
Site |
| Signal Hill overlooks
the historic port city, witness to a bygone era. As early as
1704 signal flags were flown from this site to inform merchants
of the approach of ships whether hostile or friendly.With its
panoramic view of the Atlantic ocean, port and city, Signal
Hill has been the site of countless military endeavours over
the centuries, and in 1901, was on the receiving end of the
first transatlantic wireless signal by Marconi. |
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| Website: www.pc.gc.ca |
| Cape Spear National Historic
Site |
This site is the most easterly
point in North America, better known as the Far East of the
Western World. Besides the breathtaking coastal scenery, the
major attraction is the lighthouse which is fully restored and
is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland.
Website: www.pc.gc.ca |
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| A City of Firsts |
| In December 1901
Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless
transmission in an old hospital building on Signal Hill. On
June 14, 1919 Alcock and Brown left St. John's and successfully
completed the first transatlantic flight landing in Clifden,
Ireland some 16 hours later. In addition, many adventurers
leave from St. John's to cross the Atlantic in everything from
hot air balloons to sail boards, and small crafts of all sorts.
St. John's is also the first to see the sun rise and set in
western world. |
| Natural Environment |
| Besides humpback and minke
whales, one can see fin, sperm, blue, pothead, sei and right
whales in the coastal waters surrounding Newfoundland and
Labrador. |
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| A variety of
whales, marine life and icebergs in season, can be seen from
vantage points within the city and from tour boats operating
out of St. John's harbour. Just outside the city limits a
marine bird sanctuary comes alive with seabirds and other
marine life during the summer months. |
| The Fluvarium |
This attraction is the
only public Fluvarium in North America where one can view Brook
and Brown Trout in their natural habitat.
Website:www.fluvarium.ca
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| Historic Downtown |
Museums, galleries, historical
buildings, parks, restaurants, pubs and specialty shops can be
found along the narrow winding streets and laneways of one of
the oldest mercantile districts in North America
Website:www.downtownstjohns.com |
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| Grand Concourse |
Major attractions in St.
John's are connected by a series of urban walkways, connecting
parks, historic sites, the fluvarium, magnificent Victorian
architecture and scenic ponds and river systems teaming with
trout, waterfowl, songbirds and other wildlife.
Website:www.grandconcourse.ca
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| Johnson GEO Centre |
| The Johnson GEO Centre, a
geological interpretation centre opened in June 2002, under
primary sponsorship of the Johnson Family Foundation, is
located on an 18-acre site on Signal Hill, adjacent to Signal
Hill National Historic Site. Most of the 30,000 sq. ft.
building, including the exhibits area (approx. 13,500 sq. ft.),
is underground. |
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Being below ground
permits interpretation of interesting geological features on
the natural rock walls which will remain exposed in the
exhibits area. In addition to the exhibit area, the building
will house a variety of spaces including an auditorium, a
classroom, a gift shop, and food vending, as well as special
exhibits for the oil and gas industry and the mines and
minerals industry.
With the theme of "Our Earth and Our People", the
exhibits in the GEO Centre will tell the remarkable story of
the geological history of Newfoundland and Labrador, which
extends back for an incredible 3.7 billion years. Only a
handful of places in the entire world have such an
extraordinary story of Earth to tell. The Centre's exhibits
will also illustrate how humankind has fit into this picture –
how the Earth and its systems impact on one approach to
survival on Earth, what uses we make of Earth, and how those
uses affect the well-being of Earth.
Website:www.geocentre.ca |
| The Rooms at Fort Townshend |
Opened in 2005, The Rooms is a state-of-the-art cultural centre that preserves and protects the province's heritage, history and culture. The Rooms houses the Newfoundland Museum, Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Website: www.therooms.ca |
| Botanical Gardens |
Memorial University's
Botanical gardens covers 45 hectares of land close to the heart
of St. John's. It is unusual in its dual purposes of botanical
garden and natural reserve. The flower gardens include a rock
garden, peat and woodland beds, cottage garden, perennial
garden, rhododendrons and a display of Newfoundland heritage
plants.
In the nature area, the garden attracts many kinds of
wildlife. One hundred and twenty species of birds and 26
butterfly species have been identified, while 212 species of
flowering plants and ferns naturally grow within its
boundaries. Five nature trails meander through a 110 acre
managed natural reserve.
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Website:www.mun.ca/botgarden |
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