TheAvalon Peninsula(French:Péninsule d'Avalon) is a largepeninsulathat makes up the southeast portion of the island ofNewfoundlandinCanada.It is 9,220.61 square kilometres (3,560.10 sq mi) in size.[1]
 Satellite view of the Avalon Peninsula in the winter | |
  Avalon Peninsula (Newfoundland) Location of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | North America |
| Adjacent to | Atlantic Ocean |
| Area | 9,220.61 km2(3,560.10 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Canada | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 270,348 (2016) |
The peninsula is home to 270,348 people, about 52% of Newfoundland's population, according to the 2016 Canadian census. The peninsula is the location ofSt. John's,the provincial capital and largest city.[2]It is connected to the main section of the island by the 5 km (3 mi) wide Isthmus of Avalon. The peninsula protrudes into the rich fishing zones near theGrand Banks.Its four major bays (Trinity Bay,Conception Bay,St. Mary's BayandPlacentia Bay) have long been the centre of Newfoundland's fishing industry.
Geography and geology
edit
The Avalon Peninsula is pinched into smaller peninsulas formed by St. Mary's Bay and Conception Bay. St. John's is located in the northeast of the peninsula.
The Avalon Peninsula is a noted region forPrecambrianfossils,and manyLagerstättenof the diverseEdiacaran biotaare found on the peninsula.Mistaken Pointis the original location of the first documentedEdiacaran,Aspidella terranovica(which gets itsspecificname from Newfoundland). The peninsula gives its name to the ancient micro-continentAvaloniaof which it was part.
History
editIn 1497, explorerJohn Cabotled an expedition from England in an attempt to reach theSpice Islandsin theEast Indies.He is said to have reached what is now known asBonavista.The English established their first permanent settlement atCuper's Covein 1610.
Sir George Calvertwas later given a large land holding on the peninsula in 1619 fromWilliam Vaughan,whose previous colony ofCambriolfailed. The initial colony ofFerrylandgrew to a population of 100, becoming the first successful permanent settlement onNewfoundlandisland. In 1623 Calvert was given aroyal charterextending the royal lands and granting them the nameProvince of Avalon"in imitation of OldAvaloninSomersetshirewhereinGlassenburystands, the first fruits of Christianity inBritainas the other was in that party of America ". Calvert wished to make the colony a refuge for Roman Catholics facing persecution in England. In 1625, Calvert was elevated to thePeerage of Irelandas the 1stBaron Baltimore.
A series of crises and calamities led Lord Baltimore to quit the colony in 1629 for "some other warmer climate of this new world", which turned out to beMaryland,in the Chesapeake Bay Colony. His family maintained agents to govern Avalon until 1637, when the entire island ofNewfoundlandwas granted by charter toSir David Kirkeandthe 3rd Marquess of Hamilton.
In 1696, duringKing William's War,the French destroyed many English villages in theAvalon Peninsula Campaign.They had settled along the St. Lawrence River and from the Atlantic coast to Quebec and Montreal.
DuringQueen Anne's War,CommodoreJohn Leakeof theRoyal Navyled anexpeditionaimed at capturing French ships around the peninsula and burning French settlements. The expedition was largely successful. During this same conflict, the French attempted to besiege the fortified English port ofSt. John's,butwere unsuccessful.They later returned andcaptured the town,burning it to the ground.
In the late eighteenth century, the longstanding rivalry between Great Britain and France erupted again in theSeven Years' War.It was fought in the North American colonies as well, where it was known to British colonists as theFrench and Indian War.TheBattle of Signal Hillwas fought on the peninsula in 1762. In this engagement, British soldiers and artillery under the command ofWilliam Amherstdrove the French occupants of St. John's fromSignal Hilland intothe town's fort,where they soon surrendered.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Avalon Peninsula".The Canadian Encyclopedia.ArchivedMarch 7, 2008, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Census Profile - Avalon Peninsula".Statistics Canada. 8 February 2012.Retrieved6 January2013.