Cape Spear
Encyclopedia
Cape Spear, located on the Avalon Peninsula
near St. John's, Newfoundland, is the easternmost point in North America
(52°37'W), excluding Greenland
(see Nordostrundingen
) and the portions of Alaska west of the 180th parallel of longitude (see Semisopochnoi Island
). Cape Spear is close to Blackhead, an amalgamated area of the City of St. John's, about 1.86 miles (3 km) away. Cape Spear is traditionally considered to be the easternmost location in North America.
The Portuguese
named this location "Cabo da Esperança" which means "cape of hope", which became "Cap d'Espoir" in French
and finally "Cape Spear".
Cape Spear is the trailhead/trail end for two components of the East Coast Trail
.
has operated at Cape Spear since September 1836. The original Cape Spear lighthouse was the second lighthouse built in Newfoundland; the first was built in 1810 at Fort Amherst, at the entrance to St. John's Harbour. In 1832, the first legislative assembly for the colony created a lighthouse board. Cape Spear was chosen as the site for a new lighthouse because it was on the rocky eastern coast near the entrance to St John's harbour.
Construction began in 1834. The first lighthouse was a square wooden building with a tower in the middle containing the light. A foghorn
was added in 1878. The first light used at Cape Spear had already been used since 1815 at a lighthouse at Inchkeith
on the east coast of Scotland
. This light used seven Argand burners
and curved reflectors. This was later replaced by a dioptric lens system; the light was first lit by oil, then acetylene
and finally electricity in 1930.
Because of its proximity to convoy
routes during the Second World War, a gun battery
was installed at Cape Spear to defend the entrance to St. John's harbour. Barracks and underground passages leading to the bunkers were built for the use of troops stationed there.
The World War II
bunkers and gun barrels that located at the site afford a sheltered view of the ocean.
Some visitors attracted by the scenery and history have been swept away by the large and unpredictable waves at Cape Spear, prompting Parks Canada to post numerous warning signs in the area.
Cape Spear was also used for the filming of a hockey game in the Canadian television series, Road Hockey Rumble
.
At 6:24am NST 3/10/2011, Duane Linklater watched the sunrise He traveled there to see the sunrise, to be the first one before anyone else.
Avalon Peninsula
The Avalon Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the southeast portion of the island of Newfoundland.The peninsula is home to 257,223 people, which is approximately 51% of Newfoundland's population in 2009, and is the location of the provincial capital, St. John's. It is connected to the...
near St. John's, Newfoundland, is the easternmost point in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
(52°37'W), excluding Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
(see Nordostrundingen
Nordostrundingen
Nordostrundingen , is a headland located at the northeastern end of the island of Greenland. At 11°19'W it is the most easterly point of land in both the Americas...
) and the portions of Alaska west of the 180th parallel of longitude (see Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island is part of the Rat Islands group in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The island is uninhabited and provides an important nesting area for maritime birds. The island is of volcanic origin, containing several volcanoes including Mount Cerberus...
). Cape Spear is close to Blackhead, an amalgamated area of the City of St. John's, about 1.86 miles (3 km) away. Cape Spear is traditionally considered to be the easternmost location in North America.
The Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
named this location "Cabo da Esperança" which means "cape of hope", which became "Cap d'Espoir" in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and finally "Cape Spear".
Cape Spear is the trailhead/trail end for two components of the East Coast Trail
East Coast Trail
The East Coast Trail is a hiking trail located in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Located primarily on public lands, the trail traces the east coast of the island of Newfoundland along the Atlantic Ocean. The trail passes through many small coastal towns nested in the bays of...
.
Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site
History
A lighthouseLighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
has operated at Cape Spear since September 1836. The original Cape Spear lighthouse was the second lighthouse built in Newfoundland; the first was built in 1810 at Fort Amherst, at the entrance to St. John's Harbour. In 1832, the first legislative assembly for the colony created a lighthouse board. Cape Spear was chosen as the site for a new lighthouse because it was on the rocky eastern coast near the entrance to St John's harbour.
Construction began in 1834. The first lighthouse was a square wooden building with a tower in the middle containing the light. A foghorn
Foghorn
A foghorn or fog signal or fog bell is a device that uses sound to warn vehicles of hazards or boats of the presence of other vehicles in foggy conditions. The term is most often used in relation to marine transport...
was added in 1878. The first light used at Cape Spear had already been used since 1815 at a lighthouse at Inchkeith
Inchkeith
Inchkeith is an island in the Firth of Forth, Scotland. It is part of the council area of Fife.Inchkeith has had a colourful history as a result of its proximity to Edinburgh and strategic location for use as home for a lighthouse and for military purposes defending the Firth of Forth for attack...
on the east coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. This light used seven Argand burners
Argand lamp
The Argand lamp is home lighting oil lamp producing a light output of 6 to 10 candlepower which was invented and patented in 1780 by Aimé Argand...
and curved reflectors. This was later replaced by a dioptric lens system; the light was first lit by oil, then acetylene
Acetylene
Acetylene is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne. This colorless gas is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is unstable in pure form and thus is usually handled as a solution.As an alkyne, acetylene is unsaturated because...
and finally electricity in 1930.
Because of its proximity to convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
routes during the Second World War, a gun battery
Disappearing gun
A disappearing gun is a type of heavy artillery for which the gun carriage enabled the gun to rotate backwards and down into a pit protected by a wall or a bunker after it was fired...
was installed at Cape Spear to defend the entrance to St. John's harbour. Barracks and underground passages leading to the bunkers were built for the use of troops stationed there.
Current
A new concrete building was built to house the light in 1955. The lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and the location has been designated a Canadian National Historic Site. The original lighthouse building and the light keeper's residence have since been restored to the period of 1939, and are open to the public. The visitor centre includes a gift shop.The World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
bunkers and gun barrels that located at the site afford a sheltered view of the ocean.
Some visitors attracted by the scenery and history have been swept away by the large and unpredictable waves at Cape Spear, prompting Parks Canada to post numerous warning signs in the area.
Cape Spear was also used for the filming of a hockey game in the Canadian television series, Road Hockey Rumble
Road Hockey Rumble
Road Hockey Rumble is a half-hour reality series that was produced by Paperny Films and broadcast on OLN. It follows two all-Canadian hosts, Calum MacLeod and Mark McGuckin. It is in the documentary form but crosses over into the genres of sports, travel, and comedy with an attitude that defies...
.
At 6:24am NST 3/10/2011, Duane Linklater watched the sunrise He traveled there to see the sunrise, to be the first one before anyone else.