Avalon (peninsula)
| Avalon | ||
 Avalon Coast |
||
| Geographical location | ||
|
||
| Coordinates | 47 ° 17 ′ N , 53 ° 21 ′ W | |
| Waters 1 | Atlantic Ocean | |
| surface | 10,360 km² | |
The Avalon Peninsula is the easternmost part of the island of Newfoundland . It has an area of 10,360 km². On the east coast of Avalon is St. John's , the capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador .
Avalon has a population of 248,418 (about 49% of Newfoundland's population in 2006). Avalon is linked to the main stretch of Newfoundland by the five-kilometer-wide Avalon Isthmus . The peninsula protrudes into the fish-rich areas of the Newfoundland Bank. Its four main bays - Trinity Bay , Conception Bay , St. Mary's Bay, and Placentia Bay - have long been the center of Newfoundland's fishing industry.
Geography and geology
The Avalon Peninsula itself is divided into two peninsulas by Conception Bay and St. Mary's Bay . St. Johns is located in the northeast of the peninsula.
The peninsula is a well-known area for Precambrian fossils ; many deposits of diverse Ediacaran fauna have been found on the peninsula. Mistaken Point is the location of the oldest documented Ediacarafossil, Aspidella terranovica , which got its specific name from Newfoundland.
In geological history , Avalon was a part of the small continent Avalonia , which also included parts of Central Europe, during the Ordovician . Avalonia became part of Baltica , the geological core of Europe , in the Upper Silurian . A little later, Baltica and Laurentia , the core of today's North America, merged to form the major continent of Laurussia . Due to the later opening of the Atlantic since the Jura through the middle of the united Baltica / Laurentia, parts of the former small continent Avalonia remained with Europe , other parts came to North America . The former belonging together of these parts of Avalonia is proven by a special fauna province (especially with the trilobites ). The name Avalonia is derived from the Avalonian Fauna Province, which in turn takes its name from the Avalon Peninsula. See also the article Avalonia .
history
The peninsula was one of the first areas inhabited by Europeans in North America, with the first permanent settlement in Cuper's Cove from 1610. However, the colonists left Cuper's Cove again around 1620 and moved to New England . Another original colony, today's city of Ferryland , grew to almost 100 people over time, making it the first successful permanent settlement on Newfoundland . A little later, Sir George Calvert received a large property on the peninsula from the English crown. In 1623 Calvert was granted a Royal Charter to expand the royal lands and to give them the name "Province of Avalon" based on the mythical Avalon . Just like Glastonbury , which claims to be the legendary Avalon, which was the nucleus of Christianity in England , so Avalon should become the nucleus of Christianity in North America. Calvert wanted the colony to be a refuge for the Roman Catholics persecuted in England . In recognition of his achievement, Calvert was made the first Lord Baltimore in 1625. Through the Royal Charter awarded to him, he had absolute authority in his province.
A series of crises and calamities led Calvert to leave the colony in 1629 for "another warmer climate in this new world" . He moved to the province of Maryland in what is now the US state of Maryland , but his family continued to send governors to Avalon until 1637.
In 1637 all of Newfoundland was placed under Sir David Kirke and James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton , by charter . Calvert's son, Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , fought against the new charter and in 1660 gained the official recognition of the old one from 1623, but did not attempt to retake the Newfoundland colony .
On July 17, 2016, Mistaken Point, located on the southern tip of the peninsula, was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
See also
source
- Avalon Peninsula ( English, French ) In: The Canadian Encyclopedia . Retrieved March 22, 2015.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Entry of Mistaken Point in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.Retrieved July 21, 2016