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Saint Helena (island)

Saint Helena Island (pron. huh-LEE-nuh) is in the eastern part of the South Atlantic Ocean and is one of the world's most isolated islands. If you start crossing the Atlantic due west from the border between Namibia and Angola, Saint Helena Island will appear about one-third of the way across to Brazil.

Because of this extreme isolation, Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled here from October 1815 until his death on 5 May 1821.

It is the most populous of the United Kingdom's territories in the South Atlantic with a population of 4,255 at the last census in 2006.

Main Street of Jamestown is described as one of the best examples of unspoilt Georgian architecture anywhere in the world and the whole island has been proposed to the UK government as a mixed World Heritage site.

Understand
"It is a curious little world within itself"

- Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle, concerning Saint Helena

Uninhabited when it was discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century to be used as a refreshment station for ships on the Cape Route. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon Bonaparte's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Saint Helena has three smaller dependencies: Ascension Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Tristan da Cunha is home to a very small community reliant on fishing for income; Gough Island has a meteorological station.

Saint Helena's most famous resident was Napoleon Bonaparte, who was exiled there by the British. Apparently Elba was not far enough away. He died there, and you can visit his beautiful grave site in a flower-laden glade, but his remains were disinterred and are now at Les Invalides in Paris. He had two residences on the island. He stayed at The Briars for about two months, and lived the rest of his life in a house in Longwood. You can visit both residences by appointment.

The grandest house on the island, however, is that of the governor. It looks like it was lifted straight out of 18th-century England. There are marvellous land tortoises on the grounds, including one purported to be the oldest known living terrestrial animal in the world.

The flora and fauna of the island are marvellous. Though many endemic species have become extinct, there are some left to be seen. Cabbage trees, gum trees and the local ebony can all be seen. The ebony was thought to be extinct until a local botanist found a specimen hanging off a cliff. It is being propagated and planted around the island. The islanders have also begun to restore the native forests of the island. The Millennium Forest has been planted by many volunteers and consists largely of local gum trees. Native, old growth forests can be found on the highest peaks of the island. High Peak and Diana's Peak have beautiful natural areas.

Two animals are of note. The giant earwig was the largest in the world: 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) long. The species was made extinct by researchers who collected them all. The second species is a happier story: although endangered, with only about 300 remaining, the Saint Helena wirebird is a plover-like bird with long beak and legs. It is a land bird, and can be found in open areas. The playing fields behind the high school are a particularly good place to look without having to take a longer hike. The wirebird is Saint Helena's national bird.

Orientation
Jamestown is the capital and main town of Saint Helena. It is located in a narrow valley between steep 500-ft (150-m) cliffs which mean that it is quite a struggle to climb out of this V-shaped slot onto the surrounding plateau by any of the three access paths. All visitors to Saint Helena arrive at "The Wharf" in Jamestown. There is pretty much only a single road about one mile (1.6 km) long.

The Tourist Office is in a quaint building with a beautiful bow window at the top of Main Street where it branches into Napoleon and Market Streets. Staff there can help you book tours and give you all kinds of advice about what to see and do on the island.

Official island tourism information can be obtained from St Helena Tourism. The tourist office's telephone is +290 2158.

By boat
Moorings for yachts are available at James Bay. Contact the Harbourmaster (VHF channel 14, during working hours) to obtain access to the visitors' moorings; call St Helena Radio (VHF channel 16) to conﬁrm your arrival and seek customs/immigration clearance.

By bus
St Helena has a very limited public bus service. The routes and timetables are designed primarily to satisfy the needs of locals. Buses are rare, usually going once or twice only on some weekdays. Visitors can, with some planning, use the bus service to reach some of the island's attractions and walking opportunities. Check timetables carefully and allow sufficient time to catch the return bus otherwise you may face a long walk back to Jamestown. Stops are well marked, but a nice wave will also get the driver to stop.

Taxis are also available in Jamestown (the rank is behind the tourist information office).

By car
Rental cars (£10-12 a day) are probably the more practical method of travel, but be sure to reserve one in advance. There are not too many, and when the flight arrives with its 50 tourists or more, the travel industry can be overwhelmed, and don't expect your rental car to be a recent vehicle (Ford Escorts are common). Ask your hotel to arrange car hire for you.

Saint Helena cars are driven on the left, as in the United Kingdom. Likewise, the traffic signs in Saint Helena resemble those of the United Kingdom.

By foot

Walking is wonderful, but mostly in the highlands in the centre of the island. The 21 Post Box Walks, a series of graded trails are a good way to explore much of the island. The walks and routes with maps are available in a book written by the island's Nature Conservation Group, available at the Tourist Office. The cliffs all around the perimeter make it impossible to walk along the coast at most points, access to the sea is normally by descent of the numerous steep valleys that cut through the volcanic landscape. Though small, however, don't be deceived, distances can be great for a walker. Bring water and sunscreen, but the Saints on the way will be happy to provide a refill if your water bottle runs dry.

It is very hard to walk out of Jamestown. The city is in a deep canyon coming from the highlands down to the shore, and there are three roads out, one up either edge of the canyon and the third, Barnes Road, an old track that leads to Francis Plain, perched on a plateau 500 m above Jamestown. The other way to get to the highlands is via the vertiginous Jacob's Ladder, an extremely tall 699-step staircase, built as an inclined plane to bring goods in and out of town. Walking on the roads out of town would mean sharing narrow switchbacks with cars, lots of dust, and no pavements. If you walk, even once you climb Jacob's Ladder, you still aren't halfway to the green spaces at the top, and have to walk through the beautifully named, but not so beautiful to look at, Half-Tree Hollow. A rental car or the bus are much better options.

Talk
The official language of Saint Helena is English. However it is often spoken with a strong accent and using ordinary English words in unusual ways. This dialect is locally known as "Saint". Examples include "What your name is?" and "Us need one new tyre" (us = 'we' and 'one' is used where 'a' or 'an' might be expected).

Though the island culture is a melange of people from all over the world, immigration essentially ended long ago, and the Malay, Indian, African and other immigrants to the island have not maintained their original languages or cultures. Intermarriage has been the standard on the island for so long that there are no racial differences to be made, let alone linguistic ones.

Central Island

 * The Central Peaks include Diana's Peak (the highest point on the island), Mount Actaeon and Cuckold's Point, which are home to the greatest concentration of endemic species. The Peaks are part of the humid cloud forest at the centre of the island, and are a must-see for those interested in native flora and fauna. Conservation efforts are under way to make sure that these species can survive the many changes that have taken place on the island over the years.
 * High Knoll Fort built in 1874, sits above Half Tree Hollow, at 564 metres (1,916 feet) above sea level it was meant as a second line of defence and refuge for the local population, in the unlikely event that the gun batteries at Ladder Hill and Mundens failed to prevent invasion of the island. The fort housed several large guns, cannonades and numerous rifle ports covering Jamestown and the surrounding countryside. The fort has been used as a venue for several events including Halloween Celebrations. [[Image:Cabbage_trees.jpeg|thumb|cabbage tree forest]]
 * Clifford Arboretum is a small, largely underdeveloped arboretum that is home to some of the island's native fauna and has medium-term germ storage facilities. There are self-guided hikes through it.
 * Saint Paul's Cathedral is the seat of the Anglican bishop of Saint Helena. It was built in 1856.
 * Saint Paul's Cathedral is the seat of the Anglican bishop of Saint Helena. It was built in 1856.

Southern Island

 * Sandy Bay is at the bottom of one of the deep ravines that cuts from the island's interior to the coast and is the only sandy beach on the island. Despite the rather dark grey sand and that it is too dangerous to swim in the sea, it is a favourite destination for family barbecues, with children enjoying playing in the waves. It's also a good place to begin hikes.
 * Lot's Wife's Ponds are probably the best swimming spot on the island. They are large natural tide-pools, and though it can be a bit difficult to get there, it is well worth it. The walk starts from Sandy Bay and is described in the Post Box walk book.

Do

 * Stargaze The darkness of the St Helena night sky qualifies for ‘Gold Tier’ status, the highest rating by the International Dark Sky Association, the air is also crystal clear of course and it's also not chilly; even at night, the temperature rarely falls below 10° Celsius.
 * If arriving in on a cruise ship for a day visit, make sure you get out of Jamestown to at least have a quick look around the rest of the island. Jamestown is a lovely small Georgian town where you can while away a couple of hours, but it doesn't give you an insight into what the rest of Saint Helena is really like.

Money
Saint Helena uses the Saint Helena pound (₤) as its currency, which is fixed to the British pound at a value of 1:1. British currency can be used interchangeably on the island. Some shops may also accept US dollars, rands and euros.

There is a bank on the island which opens weekdays and Saturday mornings, but has no ATM, so be sure to plan ahead. The bank can use your ATM or credit/debit card to give you money. Cash can be changed at the airport also, but St Helena money is rarely available in banks outside the St Helena-Ascension-Tristan area so changing in advance should be to British pounds. Only a limited number of shops accept credit cards.

Shopping
There are several shops in central Jamestown selling gifts and souvenirs, including locally hand-made items, and there are also interesting things to buy at Longwood House and the island museum.

The St Helena Distillery makes a range of local spirits that can be purchased in several of the shops in town. Of particular note are Tungi, a high-proof liquor made from local cactus, and Midnight Mist, a liqueur made from the highly regarded Saint Helena coffee.

Locally-produced items include woodwork, fine lace, jewellery and items woven from flax, which grows all around the island. A wide range can be purchased at the Arts & Craft Centre in The Canister building, next door to the Tourist Office.

Eat
Cooking for yourself is a great way to go. Visitors renting a room or a house on the island will find it easy to get what they need and fun to get along themselves. Tourists comment that it is surprising that on such a fertile island, there is no dairy or garden market. The availability of vegetables and salad is improving, but is still very seasonal. Fruit is generally only available in the days immediately following the freight ship visits (apart from bananas, which are available more frequently as they are grown on the island). Don't worry though, you will be able to find a wide assortment of food in various small grocery stores in town and a nice butcher shop. The main local fish on sale is tuna (a wonderful, deep red tuna) and wahoo. "Pilau" (pronounced "ploe") is a speciality of the island. It is "peasant food" in the best sense. A combination of rice, bacon and other ingredients, it is delicious and greasy.

Drink
All these are in Jamestown:
 * Consulate Hotel - see detailed listing in "Sleep" section below
 * Donny's Place - a nice open air bar with views over James Bay. You can buy some of the local Tungi there.
 * The Mule Yard - another open air bar on the seafront, next to the swimming pool.
 * The Standard
 * White Horse Pub

Out of Jamestown:
 * Pub Paradise (Longwood)
 * Colin's Bar with great views down into Sandy Bay
 * Silver Hill Bar

Sleep

 * Self-catering is a great option. On the island's tourism website you can download a list of people who have rooms or small houses to rent. This is a good way to meet the locals that you rent from and see a little bit of what it is like to live on the island.

Work
It is illegal to do paid work on St Helena unless you have a work permit or are employed by the UK or Saint Helena Government.

Wages are low, around a fifth of that paid for the equivalent work in the UK.

A large number of Saints work off the island on the sea, in the Falklands, on Ascension, South Africa or elsewhere. This is mainly to get a higher income.

Stay safe
This island must be one of the safest places on earth. Crime is practically non-existent, although there is a prison with a few inmates. You can feel comfortable walking at night anywhere on the island. There are no animals of concern, with the exception of scorpions. The only safety issue might be falls for those who want to do some climbing. Law, order and security on the island is provided by the St Helena Police Service.

Summer heat provides the only common safety issue. Take a bottle of water if climbing Jacob's Ladder or doing a walking tour. Plan in advance as 24-hour shops do not exist and little is open on a Sunday.

Traffic is limited to 20 mph (32 km/h) in the entire Jamestown area, so road accidents are also rare and rarely cause injuries.

Rockfalls can occur, due to the steep sided valley in which Jamestown sits. A catch-fencing scheme has been implemented but is not expected to stop all rockfalls. No practicable avoidance measures are possible.

For Emergencies call 999 for the Police.

Stay healthy
While there is no particular health threat on the island (no special vaccinations are required), you don't want to get seriously ill. There is a hospital with trained staff available, however there are no facilities to deal with very serious health issues. Any complicated medical issue must be dealt with off island, and that is a bare minimum of three days away if the boat to Ascension and the plane is just right. More likely you will have to wait several weeks for the boat to Cape Town.

Visitors are required to carry medical insurance that will cover the full cost of their evacuation back to their home country.

Tap water is safe to drink.

Respect
Most Saints have strong loyalty to the UK monarch and to the Christian faith, and respect for both of these is strongly requested from visitors. However there are no laws requiring observance of either, by visitors or others.

Connect
The mobile phone carrier that covers the island is Sure South Atlantic Ltd. They operate a 2G/EDGE and 4G network but it is more at 3G speeds. Telecommunications are particularly expensive, and don't expect to be able to use the Internet for extended periods of time.

There are Wi-Fi hotspots in the Consulate Hotel and in Ann's Place for £6/hour. Stamps can be purchased opposite the Consulate Hotel in Jamestown. The post office is famous among philatelists the world over and sells stamps from Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan.

Go next
The only nearby islands are Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. Beyond that you have thousands of miles of Atlantic Ocean in every direction.

title: Saint Helena (island)


text:
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British overseas territory consisting of the islands of Saint Helena and Ascension, together with the Tristan da Cunha islands group. These are among the world's most isolated islands and separated from each other by many hundreds of miles.

Understand
This is not a country but an administrative structure of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the UK. It was created on 1 September 2009, when a new constitution came into force giving the three islands equal status within this territory.

That means that all relevant information is provided and maintained in the equivalent sections of the three individual islands (separated by many hundreds of miles) rather than here.

Talk
English is the main language used on these islands.

Get in
(See the appropriate section of the article for the particular island you are interested in.)

Visitors require entry approval from the Administrator's office, requested in advance in writing. They must also have full medical insurance which will cover the expense of medical evacuation, if needed.

No visas are required.

By plane

 * Saint Helena has an airport with flights every Saturday from Johannesburg, South Africa. See more in Saint Helena.
 * Ascension Island has monthly service from Johannesburg by way of Saint Helena, operated by Airlink. The military charter flight from RAF Brize Norton close to Oxford in the United Kingdom ceased operating in 2017.

By boat

 * The Royal Mail Ship Saint Helena retired from passenger service in February 2018.

Get around
See the appropriate section of the article for the particular island you are interested in.

See and do
Consult the appropriate section of the article for the particular island you are interested in.

Buy
The St Helena pound is at parity with the pound sterling which is accepted everywhere together with the South African rand and Euro. Pounds are subdivided into 100 pence.

The Tristan da Cunha archipelago is more than a couple of thousand kilometres away from St Helena, and St Helena pounds rarely make it that far, so people in Tristan da Cunha tend to use British coins and banknotes instead, when they are not bartering.

Costs are about 30% greater than the UK, except for vices.

Eat and drink
See the appropriate section of the article for the particular island you are interested in.

Sleep
See the appropriate section of the article for the particular island you are interested in.

Stay safe
See the appropriate section of the article for the particular island you are interested in.

Tap water is safe to drink on all three islands.

Go next
See the appropriate section of the article for the particular island you are interested in.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


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Sainthia

Sainthia is an economically important city in West Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian census, it is the 4th most populous city in Birbhum district; the city had a population of 44,601.

Understand
Sainthia is known as the business capital of Central Bengal and it is famous for Nandikeshwari Temple, one of the Shakti Peethas in the Indian Subcontinent.

By electric rickshaw
Electric rickshaw is the best option to get around within the city.

Do

 * Durga Puja, a festival honouring the Hindu goddess Durga, takes place in October. This is the biggest festival for Hindus in Bengal and Eastern India. Sainthia city is the Durga Puja destination of Central Bengal because there are more than 90 Durga Puja organised in the city during Durga Puja Festival. Just like Kolkata, Sainthia takes on an almost carnival like ambiance. Streets shut down for the construction of pandals, large stands that depict events from the Ramayana and crowds flock to the biggest and best ones. A good time to visit, unless you have a fear of crowds.
 * Take a walk along the Mayurakshi river.
 * Sainthia Book fair takes place from the last week of January to the first week of February.

Buy
Sainthia city has many shopping areas or streets. The Station Road area is considered the core of fashionable marketing. "Zedd Studio" is a clothing brand for men and they have a store in Station Road. There are large markets in College Road, R.K. Road and Saintha-Suri Road. The malls are a more recent addition. "Cosmo Bazaar" is the biggest mall in the city, at Sainthia-Suri Road. The biggest jewelry store in the city is "Senco Gold & Diamonds".

Eat
Sainthia has old traditions about eating out.

Restaurant
These are the famous restaurants in the city: These are the famous sweet shops in the city:
 * Chhuti Restaurant, R. K. Road.
 * Bagicha Restaurant & Cafe at New Bridge Road.
 * Orchid Restaurant near Sainthia Municipality Office at NH 114.
 * Sarada Sweets near ICICI Bank at R. K. Road.
 * Rooj Sweets near "United Bank of India ATM" at Station Road.
 * Misti Mahal near "Sainthia Youth Computer Training Center" at Station Road.
 * Rosoraj Sweets near "Sainthia Fire Station" at College Road.

Sleep
There are many budget hotels in the city. These are the famous hotel/lodges in the city:

Go next

 * Tarapith
 * Labhpur
 * Kotasur — Madaneswar temple, Kuntir Pradip, Bakasurer Had.
 * Suri

title: Sainthia


text:
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes département of France. Its tranquility and warm climate make it a favourite holiday destination among the European aristocracy and international rich who visit the French Riviera. Nicknamed as one of the pearls on the French Riviera, this quiet fishing village is renowned in the whole world for its peninsula of lush vegetation and rocky beaches

Understand
In 2017, it had a population of 1,600.

Some of its Italianate and belle époque estates have hosted a plethora of heads of state, aristocrats, and personalities: King Leopold II of Belgium, Baroness de Rothschild, Charlie Chaplin, Prince Rainier III, David Niven, Somerset Maugham, Jean Cocteau, Lady Kenmare and Roderick Cameron, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Pierre and São Schlumberger, Hubert de Givenchy, Rachel Lambert Mellon, Mary Wells Lawrence, Isadora Duncan, Winston Churchill, French prime ministers Maurice Rouvier and Raymond Barre. In 2012, Cap Ferrat was named the second most expensive residential location in the world after Monaco.

Get in
81 bus from Nice Gare Routiere.

See

 * Villa Grècque Kerylos - Early 1900s copy of a Greek villa, in neighbouring Beaulieu-sur-Mer
 * St Hospice: There is a very large bronze statue of the Madonna and Child, the early-19th century chapel, and a military cemetery for the 1914-18 war.
 * Le Phare: A highlight of St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is the lighthouse, built in 1862 by decision of Napoleon III who wanted to equip the French littoral with a semaphoric chain. The goal was to ensure a monitoring of navigation, transmit messages to the ships, organize help in the event of maritime disasters, and take part in the first maritime meteorological observations.
 * Port de Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat: This is a small marina with 560 berths. It is very well-sheltered and quiet, located on the French Riviera.
 * Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat: Built in 1908, this stately white palace has hosted many worldwide personalities since it was erected, such as Paul Deschanel, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, Queen Victoria's daughter, who remained a guest for many seasons and was often visited by her brother the Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, who lived for twenty years on Cap Ferrat.
 * Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat: Built in 1908, this stately white palace has hosted many worldwide personalities since it was erected, such as Paul Deschanel, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, Queen Victoria's daughter, who remained a guest for many seasons and was often visited by her brother the Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, who lived for twenty years on Cap Ferrat.

Do

 * Promenade Maurice Rouvier

Beaches

 * Paloma beach southeast of the port, on the north side small peninsula (St Hospice). Being on a northeast-facing shore and at the base of some tall cliffs. The location is about a 5–10 minutes walk from the port.
 * Passable beach is on the northwest side of the main peninsula, past the Office de Tourisme and past the zoo (parc zoologique). It's west-facing, with a view across the Rade de Villefranche.
 * Cro de Peï Pin is the biggest beach, located just north of the port at the Anse Lilong (the bay between the main peninsula and the smaller Ste Hospice peninsula), facing eastward into the Baie des Fourmis and the Tete de Chene. There's a public parking lot alongside the beach.

Eat

 * Le Sloop, Port of St Jean waterfront

title: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat


text:
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a town of 1,500 people (2019) in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France. It is a common starting point for the French Way of the pilgrim route Way of St. James, to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

Understand

The town lies on the river Nive, 8 km from the Spanish border. It is the head town of the region of Cize (Basque: Garazi), and was the capital of the former Basque province of Lower Navarre.

The town's name means "Saint John [at the] Foot of [the] Pass"; the pass leads through the Pyrenees to Spain. That's where the pilgrims go.

By plane
You can fly to Biarritz's airport from many airports in France, the UK and Ireland.

For an airport transfer, taxi, bus or coach service from Biarritz Airport to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you can contact Express Bourricot, Sea-Lifts or Biarritz Airport Transfers. There are trains from Biarritz.

From Madrid, you can fly to Pamplona and take a taxi from there.

By train
There are trains to Bayonne from Gare Montparnasse in Paris: 4 hr, 4–6 trains/day. Book online at SNCF Connect. From Bayonne, there are trains onwards to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: 1½ hr, 4–5 trains/day. Book at SNCF Connect (at SNCF Connect itinerary).

There are also trains from Biarritz (SNCF Connect).

From Madrid, you can take a train to Pamplona and take a taxi from there.

By pilgrimage
Before the age of rail, most pilgrims had to walk all the way from home to reach Santiago de Compostela. Several of the routes through France pass through this town and still see use by pilgrims.

Get around

Walk.

See
There are many very old buildings, built of pink and grey schist, which retain distinctive features including inscriptions over their doors.

Do

Begin the French Way of Way of St. James (Spanish: El Camino de Santiago, El Camino; Galician: O Camiño de Santiago, Ruta Xacobea; French: Chemin de St-Jacques, German: Jakobsweg)

This is a popular starting point, if not the most popular starting point for those who are beginning the Way of St. James. Referred to as pilgrims (pèlerins in France and peregrinos in Spanish), many international travellers choose this, as it is the starting point in France that is closest to the Spanish border. Pilgrims begin by reporting in to the Pilgrim's Office to obtain their credencial to begin their journey.

Buy

 * Free trekking or hiking poles may be available at Notre-dame-du-Bout-du-Pont. See above under See.
 * Free trekking or hiking poles may be available at Notre-dame-du-Bout-du-Pont. See above under See.

Go next
Spain

title: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port


text:
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is a city of almost 100,000 people (2021) in Montérégie, Southwestern Quebec. Agrotourism is one of the region's biggest draws, boasting orchards and cider-houses, vineyards and wineries, and maple sugar shacks (sucreries).

Understand
It is about 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Montreal on the shores of the Richelieu River and about 30 km from the Canada-US border. Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ranks eleventh among cities in the province. Regional capital of Haut-Richelieu in Montérégie, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu enjoys a strategic location and offers its citizens an exceptional quality of life.

The city is in an area rich with fertile soil. St-Jean is a manufacturing centre for textiles, food and wood products. It hosts an Area Support Unit (ASU) of the Canadian Forces, which functions as a primary recruit and officer training establishment.

History
The city has been an important transportation hub. The first railway line in British North America connected it with La Prairie in 1836.

The French built Fort Saint-Jean in the 17th century. Known to early English settlers as St. Johns, it provided an important communication link during the French and Indian Wars. During the American Revolutionary War control of the town changed hands several times as British and American forces moved through the area.

Local information

 * Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Town council website

By car
The city is split in two by Autoroute de la Vallée-des-Forts (Autoroute 35) which goes north-south.

By plane
It is close to Montreal's Pierre-Elliot Trudeau International Airport.

Get around
The Ville de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu public transit system provides commuter and local bus services.

 * If you have a smartphone, you can enjoy walking around the city with free audio tours, published on izi.travel platform.

Eat
Several restaurants or dining rooms in the Montérégie have transformed the mode of meals at the tables into take-out or delivery service. In general, restaurateurs have demonstrated great resilience by updating their website, integrating interactive and automated applications for remote orders, as well as the display of the menu, opening hours, their mode of operation (e.g. by reservation, drive-through service), required health measures (e.g., vaccination record, mask, distancing), other services (e.g., caterer, shops, accommodation, access for disabled, wi-fi, take-out, delivery), contact details and often the history of the restaurant or site.

Sleep
You can look for a place to stay at the Government of Québec's official tourist site.

Communication
In terms of watercourse safety, the Quebec government's Public Security displays the results of flood water monitoring, particularly for the Richelieu River: HERE

Go next

 * — There are many recreational activities there: hiking (via the green trail that joins Saint-Hubert), cycling, nautical activities (on the Acadie or Richelieu rivers), its municipal parks, etc.
 * —Chambly is a major recreational tourism destination, thanks to its historical heritage, the Chambly Basin, the Chambly Canal, its enchanting site along the west bank of the Richelieu River, and its leisure facilities (bike paths, parks, landing stages, etc.).
 * — The rustic and the modern blend well here. It is renowned for nautical activities and its vacation resort on the east bank of the Richelieu River.
 * —Municipality overlooked by the magnificent mountain of Mont Saint-Grégoire which includes hiking trails to reach the summit where the panorama on the plain of the Saint-Laurent is bucolic. The northwest side of the mountain is the sugar bush capital of Quebec and Canada. The dining rooms of the seven largest maple groves offer various other attractions around maple products: catering service, maple products shop, horse-drawn carriage rides, mountain, playgrounds for children, and mini farm. Mont-Saint-Grégoire also has five orchards and agrotourism.
 * — This locality on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River is at the heart of the St. Lawrence plain. Agriculture being its first economic activity. The locality has two commercial zones: the zone of exit 21 of Highway 15, and the zone of the village served by local shops.
 * — Picturesque municipality of the plain of Saint-Laurent; agriculture is the main economic activity. This locality has several offers of recreational and tourist activities: camping area, an acceleration track, and a winter fun carnival in January.
 * — offering various recreational and tourist activities: sports complex and various leisure activities. Located on the west bank of the Richelieu River, boaters benefit from marinas and various services for boating. The resort is developed there.
 * — Locality whose main economic activity is agriculture. This locality offers various recreational and tourist activities: library, recreation pavilion, green spaces and sports fields
 * — Municipality on the east bank of the Richelieu River. The main economic activities are centred on boating (marinas, beach, boating services) and agriculture. The municipality offers a leisure infrastructure and a variety of leisure activities.

title: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu


text:
Saint John

Saint John is the second-largest city in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, with 68,000 residents (2016). It is in the south of the province on the Bay of Fundy

Understand
Saint John is a city whose population is composed almost entirely of the descendants of Irish immigrants and British loyalists. Canada's oldest incorporated city, Saint John's metro population is approximately 125,000 and it routinely plays host to cruise ships and individual tourists from all over North America. (To avoid confusion with St. John's (Newfoundland), Saint John is never spelled St. John - locals will be very quick to point this out.)

Until 2003, Saint John had a long history of shipbuilding at the city's dry dock, which is one of the largest in the world. Saint John now has fast growing research and information technology sectors, and it has a growing sector of tourism, with over 1.5 million visitors a year and 200,000 cruise ship visitors a year, creating a renaissance in the city's historic downtown (locally known as uptown).

History
Mi'kmaq and Maliseet Aboriginal peoples lived in the region for thousands of years, calling the river Wolastoq, and what is now the Saint John region, Menahkwesh, before European settlement.

French explorer Samuel de Champlain landed at Saint John Harbour on June 24, 1604 (the feast of St. John the Baptist). This is where the Saint John River gets its name. After over a century of ownership disputes over the land surrounding Saint John between the French and English, the English deported the French colonists in 1755 and constructed Fort Howe above the harbour in 1779.

Saint John, as a major settlement, was established by Loyalist refugees of the American Revolution when two fleets of vessels from Massachusetts, one in the spring and a second in the fall, arrived in the harbour. These refugees wished to remain living under Great Britain and were forced to leave their U.S. homes during the American Revolution.

In 1785, the City of Saint John was formed from the union of Parrtown and Carleton. Over the next century, waves of Irish immigration, namely during the Great Famine via Partridge Island, would fundamentally change the city's demographics and culture.

Climate
Temperatures in Saint John vary by season. In the summertime temperatures can reach a high of 22°C, and in the wintertime they can dip to -15°C. Rain is common in the spring and autumn, but it usually doesn't rain much in the summer. Fog is not uncommon during the summer months. There is the occasional heavy snowfall in the winter; however, snow is usually more abundant the more north you travel away from the Bay of Fundy.

By car
Driving to Saint John is usually not a hassle, unlike in many other cities. However, traffic has been steadily increasing. And for travellers driving from Fredericton to Saint John on Highway 7, care is required because of the risk of moose collisions at certain times of year and certain times of the day.

Saint John is 107 km (66 miles) from the Calais/St. Stephen border between Canada and the United States of America. Driving distances from major cities are 496 km (310 miles) from Portland, Maine, 940 km (588 miles) from Montreal, Québec and 424 km (265 miles) from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

If you're travelling from southern Nova Scotia, your best bet is to take Bay Ferries from Digby. There are three crossings daily from mid-June to mid-October, these take 2½ hours on average. During the rest of the year there is at least one crossing daily and they usually take 2 hr 45 min. $37 per adult passenger and $119 for a car (April 2017). Book online, and check on at the terminal to get your boarding pass when you arrive. Restaurant, cafeteria and wifi on board.

By bus

 * Operates the following routes to Saint John:
 * Between Saint John and Moncton including a stop in Sussex. Travel time to Saint John from Moncton is 2.25 hours.
 * Between Saint John and Fredericton including a stop in Fredericton Airport. Travel time to Saint John from Fredericton is 1.25 hours.
 * Travel to Saint John from the following destinations involving same day transfers is as follows:
 * From Charlottetown (5.25 hours) with transfers in Amherst and Moncton
 * From Edmundston (5 hours) with a transfer in Fredericton
 * From Bathurst (7.5 hours), Campbellton (8.75 hours), Halifax (6.25 hours), and Miramichi (6.5 hours) with a transfer in Moncton
 * From Antigonish (7 hours), North Sydney (9.75 hours), Sydney (10.5 hours) with transfers in Truro and Moncton
 * From Antigonish (7 hours), North Sydney (9.75 hours), Sydney (10.5 hours) with transfers in Truro and Moncton

Airlines

 * Canadian airlines serving Saint John Airport:

By train
There is no passenger train to Saint John. Via Rail serves Moncton, from which a two-hour bus ride reaches Saint John.

By boat
Saint John also boasts a booming cruise ship industry and has cruise ships enter the city's dock on a regular basis.

Saint John's Market Wharf also provides a convenient if unserviced space within the harbour for pleasure boaters, making it easy for power or sail vessels coming in from the Fundy to berth and enjoy the Uptown shopping or dining. Longer term moorage is not available in the harbour, although it is available several miles up the Saint John River. There are no fuel or marine services at the wharf, and the wharf is used by local fishing boats and by pleasure craft.

Saint John can also be reached by ferry coming from Digby, NS. As of 2024, it is operated by Bay Ferries Ltd. Check the schedule because crossings are dependant on weather and technical conditions and subjected to change. Crossing time in peak season is approximately 2 hours 15 minutes and 2 hours and 30 minutes during off season. Parking is available at the Saint John and Digby ferry terminals.

By taxi
There are several companies available in Saint John for this service. Most companies accept debit and credit cards in their cabs, but be sure to ask for this service as it may not be available in all cars. Approximate prices for taxi services in Saint John, based on one person in the taxi and no stops are as follows:
 * East Side to Uptown or North End: $7-10 (and vice versa)
 * East Side to West Side: $12-15
 * North to South End: $8-10

If you are staying outside of the city in Rothesay or the surrounding area, expect to pay above $15. Cab rides to the airport can run in the $20 range. For people who need to make a short stop to pick up cash or something quick, most drivers will charge you an extra buck. But make sure you ask, because they are supposed to charge you for another stop. Some will do this right off the bat if you don't ask. Also, most cab drivers are more than happy to have your repeat business, so if there is someone you like ask for their car number and next time you call you can ask for the same person.

Within the Uptown it is possible to travel on foot between the City Market, Brunswick Square Mall, Market Square, the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, Mercantile Centre and Harbour Station via underground and pedway connections without venturing outside (the "Inside Connection"). This is very useful during the winter. During the rest of the year, Uptown Saint John also offers a very pleasant and fairly accessible walking experience, with clear, well-maintained sidewalks and crosswalks, and fairly straightforward navigation. (Unlike many older cities, Saint John's Uptown is laid out in a simple grid design.)

There are eleven car rental dealerships in the city including an Avis Rent-A-Car at the Saint John Airport.

Buy
The City Market uptown is the oldest operating farmers market in Canada, with fruits, vegetables, fresh seafood, Java Moose (a local brewed coffee house with good take-home coffee beans), and on Saturdays, various vendors with foods from around the world. Uptown is also home to hundreds of independent shops with a wide variety of food and merchandise. A stroll down King Street finds stores selling local arts and crafts, while across the street the Brunswick Square Mall offers commercial stores (clothes, shoes, cards, books, music, Laura Secord chocolates). On Germain and Canterbury Streets (both off King Street) independent merchants offer used books, records and international cuisine.

There are eight local shopping centres of varying quality; a few are mere strip malls or have fallen into the "dead mall" pattern of discount stores, vacancies or non-retail uses such as telephone call centres. The largest local malls are McAllister Place and East Point Shopping Centre in the east end, or Brunswick Square and Market Square uptown. The city's east side is also home to numerous big-box stores, mostly chains ranging from clothing to hardware to electronics.

Eat
A variety of locations for dining in are available in Market Square. For the more thrifty traveller an eatery is located in Brunswick Square, or try the side aisles of the City Market for fresh salads, sandwiches, and other local fare.

Sleep
Finding a place to stay in Saint John shouldn't be a hassle. For those of you who prefer a comfortable stay near everything you could wish to see, try one of the hotels or B&Bs in the uptown. Hotels in Saint John cost on average $120 per night for a single. However, if you are travelling on a budget there are still some comfortable motels around the city.

For camping underneath the stars, Rockwood Park or the village of St. Martins are suitable choices.

A few cottages or country inns may be found in the city, with many more in the suburbs and nearby country.

Connect
Internet access is available in several areas within the "Inside Connection", including a convenience store in Market Square and an Internet Cafe located en route between Market Square and Brunswick Square. In addition, many coffee places also offer free wi-fi. Any Java Moose or Starbucks locations will offer this. Also, on King Street in the uptown area, there is UZone which is an internet cafe. They also offer by-the-hour video gaming and LAN gaming.

Stay safe
Saint John is safe compared to most cities; however, it is a good idea to walk on well-lit busy streets after dark and not on darker side streets. Street crime is rare but not unheard of. You are relatively safe in the commercial/retail area of uptown, where the hotels are located. The South End, also known as "uptown", can be dangerous in certain areas, as well as the North End.

Go next

 * Bay of Fundy - Fundy National Park offers great hiking and camping.
 * Moncton - The largest city and the largest metropolitan city in New Brunswick.
 * Sussex (New Brunswick) - The "Dairy Centre of the Maritimes". Main attractions: Poley Mountain Ski Hill (winter) and the Atlantic International Balloon Fiesta (2nd weekend in September).
 * Fredericton - Historic capital of New Brunswick.
 * Digby, NS - It's scallops are renowned as the best in the world

title: Saint John


text:
Saint John's

Saint John's is the capital city of Antigua and Barbuda. It is on the island of Antigua. The city is famous for its shopping malls and boutiques throughout the city, selling designer jewellery and haute-couture clothing. St. John's attracts tourists from the resorts on the island and from the cruise ships which dock in its harbour at Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay several times a week. In 2011, it was home to 22,000 people.

Climate
St. John's has a topical with summer-like weather year-round, with hot days and warm nights. Rainfall is at its highest from September to November due to hurricane activity.

Get around
There are car rentals and many taxi services available.

The local bus service is pretty reliable (ask locals for assistance).

See

Do

 * Cricket:
 * Cricket:

Eat and drink
There are many restaurants in the St. John's area.

There bars all around the island. There are a few distilleries too.

Sleep
At one of the many hotels or guest houses. For the traveller on a budget try to stay at a local rented apartment or a cheap motel.

Go next

 * Barbuda
 * Falmouth
 * English Harbour

title: Saint John's


text:
Saint John (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Saint John, Saint John's or St. John's:

Antigua and Barbuda

 * Saint John's - the capital city, on the island of Antigua
 * Saint John Parish - one of Antigua's 6 parishes

Austria

 * St. Johann - a small town in Austria.

Barbados

 * Saint John Parish - one of the island's 11 parishes

Canada

 * Fort St. John - a town in British Columbia.
 * Saint John - the largest city in the province of New Brunswick
 * Saint John River Valley - in the province of New Brunswick
 * St. John's - the capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Dominica

 * Saint John Parish - one of the island's 10 parishes

Grenada

 * Saint John Parish - one of the island's 6 parishes

Jersey

 * Saint John (Jersey)

Montserrat

 * Saint John's (Montserrat)

South Africa

 * Port St Johns - a town on the Wild Coast.

U.S. Virgin Islands

 * Saint John (Virgin Islands) - located 2+ miles east of St Thomas. A largely protected island that is 60% national park.

United States of America

 * St. Johns is a region and County in northeast Florida, near the First Coast and North Central regions.
 * St. Johns (Michigan) — a city in Michigan

title: Saint John (disambiguation)


text:
Saint John (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Saint John is the smallest, but many say the prettiest of the U.S. Virgin Islands because of its world-class beaches. Two-thirds of Saint John is Virgin Islands National Park.

Cities
There are two main "communities" on the island:
 * , on the western side of the island
 * , on the southern side of the island. Coral Bay is known to be the more relaxed side of the island.

History
First settled by Taino natives and then by Carib natives who drove the Arawaks from the island in 1300. Discovered by Columbus on his second voyage to the "new world" and claimed for Spain. Later owned by the Danes, who sold it to the United States in 1917.

Get in
Ferries are available everyday from St. Thomas, departing from both Charlotte-Amalie and Redhook. The Redhook ferries run every hour from 6AM until 11PM, while Charlotte-Amalie only has 3 trips a day at 10AM, 1PM, and 5:30PM.

Both ferries arrive at the main ferry terminal in Cruz Bay. A taxi line is located next to the terminal, and the Vitran Bus also stops at the terminal.

By plane
There is no airport on the island, even for private aircraft. The nearest airport is Saint Thomas' Cyril E King Airport.

By boat
Hourly ferry service from Red Hook, Saint Thomas (a 20-minute ride) is available to Cruz Bay, St. John and operates from 6:30AM, then hourly from 7AM - midnight. Ferry service from St. John to St. Thomas runs on the hour from 6AM-11PM. Less frequent ferries travel between Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John (a 45-minute ride). Ferries also run to and from Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and Anegada (in the British Virgin Islands).

Get around
Renting a car is the best way to see all the beaches and other sites. However, be aware that the terrain is extremely hilly, and you have to drive on the left. If you rent a car, it's a good idea to request a Jeep or other four-wheel-drive vehicle. If you are vacationing near Cruz Bay then using a cab service is an option. Cabs are affordable and plentiful, especially to the north shore beaches. However, if you renting a home outside of Cruz bay or in Coral bay then renting a car is necessary.

The Vitran bus service runs from Cruz Bay over Coral Bay to Salt Pond and back every hour and is a great and affordable ($1 per person) way to cross the island, or to get to any of the numerous hiking trails that start around Centerline Road. However, this bus schedule is very unreliable and should not be a travelers only source of transportation. Hitch hiking is also prevalent on the island.

See

 * Virgin Islands National Park - Virgin Islands National Park's hills, valleys and beaches are breath-taking
 * U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument - extends eastward from Estate Hermitage to Haulover Bay along the southern shoreline of the Island

Do

 * Take a tour by jeep and boat around the island or sit on the white sandy beaches.
 * Explore the island and stop at the beaches and spend all day snorkeling.
 * Take a guided kayak tour or snorkeling tour in Coral Bay
 * Miles of hiking trails criss-cross the entire island. Maps are available from the U.S. Park Service office in Cruz Bay. Ranger guided hikes can also be scheduled for a small fee at the same office.
 * Visit the Catherineberg Sugar Mill, Annaberg Sugar Plantation, or Cinnamon Bay Sugar Mill ruins.
 * Travel to Coral Bay and visit other popular beaches such as Salt Pond.
 * Visit some of the smaller bays like Denis Bay and Little Cinnamon. They can be a trek compared to Trunk Bay but are well worth it when you have a tropical beach to yourself.
 * Visit the beach at Trunk Bay, rated one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Great place to snorkel. The beach facilities include food, drink and showers.
 * Snorkeling Trip to Henley Cay, located just off of now-closed Caneel Bay Resort in the Durloe Channel. This tiny 11-acre cay is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, and is ranked one of the top snorkeling spots on St John.

Learn
The surrounding woods and brush areas are often populated with wildlife. The park has 140 species of birds, 302 species of fish, 7 species of amphibians, 22 species of mammals and 740 species of plants. The only mammal native to St. John is the bat, and the six species are important pollinators of native plants. The island also has many other species of animals that are not native, including deer, goats, sheep, donkeys, cats, dogs, mongoose and pigs.

If you do go hiking on St. John, be cognizant of the some of the islands dangerous plants. Some of these include the Christmas bush which, similar to poison ivy, can cause a skin rash and of catch and keep which can cause serious cuts and of the rare but seriously harmful Manchineel tree.

Buy
Currency, its access, and customs considerations are basically the same as for Saint Thomas. Cruz Bay has a few merchants offering jewelry, liquor and souvenirs, but somewhat more genteel than in most cruise ports. For items that benefit from duty-free importation, prices generally rival those in Saint Thomas. (See this topic for Saint Thomas; most advice applies, though St John is seldom overrun by cruise passengers shopping.)

Island shopping ranges from walk-up drink and food shacks to a stylish, tiered, open-air galleria/mall. Most are in or within easy walking distance of the harbor, e.g., the gallery of shops at Mongoose Junction.

Eat
St. John has more than 35 places to dine, ranging from chic and expensive restaurants to funky beachside food stands. After dark the island comes alive with hotel and villa guests seeking out one of the island's cozy and romantic restaurants.

Mid-range

 * North Shore Deli: Call +1 340 777-3061 or e-mail at northshoredelistj@gmail.com for advanced orders. Located on the north side of Mongoose Junction on the middle level. On-site prepared desserts and baked breads complemented by a variety of sliced meats, greens and sauces for a wide range of tasty deli sandwiches.  Also offers chilled salads of many types, and a wide range of soft drinks, beer and some wines...to enjoy on-site or packaged for take-out.
 * De Coal Pot: Call +1 340 714-2625 or go to the website for reservations.  Go one full block directly east of the passenger ferry dock, then turn right a short distance to 19F South Bay Road.  Modest dining room, friendly service and menu that offers generous portions of tasty, authentic Caribbean cuisine at modest prices for lunch and dinner.  Complemented by a small bar.
 * Skinny Legs in Coral Bay offers specialty cheeseburgers, beers and more with a harbor side venue.
 * Skinny Legs in Coral Bay offers specialty cheeseburgers, beers and more with a harbor side venue.

Splurge

 * St John villa Great Expectations Hart Bay. One of St John's most popular luxury rental villas. Accommodating large families or groups of couples traveling together with 4 master bedroom suites and 3 guest bedroom suites, private basketball and tennis court, wading and swimming pool, hot tubs, hammocks and sunrise and sunset views.
 * St John villa Great Expectations Hart Bay. One of St John's most popular luxury rental villas. Accommodating large families or groups of couples traveling together with 4 master bedroom suites and 3 guest bedroom suites, private basketball and tennis court, wading and swimming pool, hot tubs, hammocks and sunrise and sunset views.

Stay safe
Crime is not a major problem in St. John. You will find residential villas and locals are very friendly. The usual common-sense precautions are advised, such as locking your doors, not displaying large amounts of cash, jewelry, or cameras (especially at Waterlemon Cay on the North Side of the island)  Never use your car as a safe place for your wallet while at the beach. Otherwise, your stay on St. John should be worry-free. Local information on crime on St John.

Respect
It is customary to look all natives in the eyes and greet them with a "Good Morning" in the morning, "Good Afternoon" in the afternoon, and "Good Evening" after 5PM. It is considered to be respectful. It is also frowned upon by the locals for tourist to walk in public without shirts or shorts on. It is also legal to drink in public in the US Virgin Islands but no glass bottles can be brought to National Park beaches.

Connect
The Virgin Islands are covered by area code 340, and calls to and from the US are considered domestic. American mobile phones will work in Saint John automatically.

Likewise, mail is handled by the United States Postal Service. Saint John uses the territorial abbreviation VI, and is assigned ZIP codes 00830–00831. The only post office is located in Cruz Bay

Go next
Take a day sail to the British Virgin Islands - Virgin Gorda, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke - with snorkeling stops along the way. Be sure you have appropriate travel documents to enter the British islands and to return to the United States.

title: Saint John (U.S. Virgin Islands)


text:
Saint John River Valley

The Saint John River Valley in New Brunswick, Canada, follows the Saint John River along the western border with Maine. The valley features historic wooden covered bridges, river ferries, falls, artist studios, and historic sites.

Cities

 * — a vacation and summer destination, with numerous cottages up and down the shores of the lake
 * — 95% francophone, and centre of the Brayon culture, which many consider to be neither Acadian nor Québécois, and home of the New Brunswick Botanical Garden
 * — home of a 2/3-scale model of Noah's Ark
 * — capital city and the cultural, artistic and educational centre of the province
 * — many studios featuring pottery, weaving and art
 * — named for a waterfall created by a series of rock ledges over which the river drops 23 m
 * — home of the world's longest wooden covered bridge
 * — home of the world's largest axe
 * — home of Canadian Forces Base Gagetown
 * — at the Gathering of the Scots at the end of May, you can watch some of the finest Ancient Scottish Heavy Events athletes
 * — come in February for the annual World Pond Hockey Championships
 * — it has it all: a sawmill and potato farms
 * — gateway to Mount Carleton Provincial Park
 * — the oldest incorporated town in New Brunswick preserves its many Victorian buildings

Understand
The Saint John River is a 673-km-long river that flows from Northern Maine into Canada, and runs south along the western side of New Brunswick, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean in the Bay of Fundy. Eastern Canada's longest river,[ its drainage basin is one of the largest on the east coast.

With the water flow in the spring being six times the average rate, the valley has always been prone to flooding in the spring. Surface runoff from heavy rainfall is the main cause of flooding, and can be exacerbated by ice jams, high tides, and rapid snowmelt. Flooding has occurred in Edmundston, Grand Falls, Perth-Andover, Hartland, and Woodstock, and most severely around Fredericton. The severity and frequency of flooding is increasing with climate change.

When the Europeans arrived, they found that the Saint John River basin was the homeland of the Maliseet tribes, who practised hunting and gathering and farmed near the banks of the river. During the 1600 and 1700s, French colonists populated the lower river valley as part of Acadia. Decades of warfare between the British colonies in what is now New England and Acadia, led to the expulsion of the Acadians in 1784. Following the American Revolutionary War, United Empire Loyalists settled the area. Returning Acadians settled the upper valley.

Large numbers of people began settling the area in the early 1800s, mostly Scottish and Irish, and by the end of the 1850s much of the central Saint John valley had been cleared of old-growth forest for farming. Francophone Quebecers moved into the northern areas. In the interwar period, many of these farms were abandoned due to urbanization, and allowed to reforest.

By car
Edmundston is on Trans-Canada Highway 2 between Fredericton and the Quebec border. It is across the river from and has an international border crossing with Madawaska, Maine.

Fredericton is 180 km from Moncton on the Trans-Canada Highway (#2), and 120 km from Saint John on Route 7 (turn west on #2 at Oromocto).

By bus
Maritime Bus runs buses between Fredericton and Edmundston daily. Service available from Moncton, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

Get around
The Trans-Canada Highway (#2) provides the most direct route through the valley, from the Quebec border all the way to Moncton.

Route 105 is a slower, more scenic route that follows the river closely from Grand Falls to Fredericton.

Maritime Bus runs buses between Edmundston and Fredericton twice a day with stops at the towns along the Trans-Canada Highway, including Woodstock, Florenceville, Perth-Andover, Grand Falls and St.-Leonard.

See

 * The Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton is New Brunswick's provincial art gallery. William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, funded the building of the gallery and assembled the original collection. It has over 300 works, including paintings by J.M.W. Turner and Salvador Dalí.
 * The King's Landing is a historical settlement near Fredericton north. It is an outdoor living history museum that recreates the sights, sounds and feel of rural New Brunswick in the 1800s.
 * The Hartland Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge in the world at 391 m. You can still drive across, or walk across on the sidewalk. The bridge is a National Historic Site.
 * The Grand Falls Gorge includes a waterfall with a series of rock ledges over which the river drops 23 metres (75 ft).
 * The World Pond Hockey Championships are held in Plaster Rock in mid-February. The 4-day event has been held annually since 2002. It attracts 120 teams from every province in Canada, 35 American states, and 15 other countries at a variety of competitive levels. Its emphasis is on camaraderie instead of competition. Over 8000 spectators enjoy games on 20 rinks.
 * The New Brunswick Botanical Garden in Edmunston has themed gardens including annuals, perennials, rhododendrons, an alpine garden and a rose garden.

Do

 * Zipline over the valley at Grand Falls.
 * Hike the NB Trail on the old railway line and bridges on both sides of the St. John River. It is part of the Trans-Canada Trail.
 * Mont Farlagne near Edmunston offers skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, fat biking.
 * Mount Carleton Provincial Park, near Plaster Rock, has several significant peaks, all of which have trails around or over them. At 820 m, Mount Carleton is the highest peak in the Maritime provinces. The park is in the northern extension of the Appalachian Mountains.

Eat

 * Fiddlehead ferns are a local specialty
 * Tarte au sucre is a Brayon sugar pie
 * River salmon are abundant in rivers and on menus

Go next

 * Head down to Saint John and Bay of Fundy

title: Saint John River Valley


text:
St. Johnsbury

Saint Johnsbury is a city in Vermont. The population is about 7,600.

By car
Saint Johnsbury is just north of the intersection of Interstates 91 and 93 and along US Route 2.

title: St. Johnsbury


text:
Saint Joseph (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Saint Joseph, St Joseph, or St Joe:

Canada

 * St. Joseph Island - An island in Northern Ontario.

United States of America

 * Port St. Joe - A town on Saint Joseph Bay in Florida.
 * St. Joseph (Michigan) — A town in Michigan.
 * St. Joseph (Missouri) — A town in Missouri.

title: Saint Joseph (disambiguation)


text:
Saint-Joseph-du-Lac

Saint-Joseph-du-Lac is a municipality of 6,200 people (2011) in the lower Laurentides in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Understand
The main agricultural activity in the region is the production of apples.

By car
Autoroute 640 runs through Saint-Joseph-du-Lac.

By public transit

 * Via Rail provides service to Montreal's central station from Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and other cities.
 * Via Rail provides service to Montreal's central station from Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and other cities.

By plane
The nearest airport is Montreal's Pierre-Elliot Trudeau International Airport.

Sleep
You will find accommodations in nearby Saint-Eustache, Oka and Laval.

title: Saint-Joseph-du-Lac


text:
Saint Kitts

Saint Kitts is the larger of the two islands that make up the small Caribbean island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Regions
St. Kitts is officially divided into nine parishes: Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, St John Capisterre, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point.

The island's regions are, however, more easily defined by the geography. In the south there is the long, dry, hilly and still relatively undeveloped southeastern peninsula, which points towards Nevis. North of that is the gently sloping or relatively flat area near Basseterre, including the grounds of the Marriot. North of that is the main body of the island of St. Kitts, which consists of a central range of mountains, surrounded by less steep coastal areas where most of the villages are situated.

Cities

 * , the capital
 * Cayon
 * Sandy Point Town
 * Parsons
 * Dieppe Bay
 * Molineux

Understand
Over the centuries, St. Kitts and Nevis changed hands many times between English and French, which has left it a heritage of cities with names from both countries. However, the architecture there is British colonial in style and the driving is on the left. It's especially important to remember this in downtown Basseterre, where Circus Place has the reproduction of the 'Berkeley Memorial Clock'.

St. Kitts and Nevis became an associated state of the United Kingdom with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.

On St. Kitts there are several ancient British fortifications that have been restored reproducing the tiniest details of the original construction.

Many new projects are in progress or completion on St. Kitts, notably vast dockings to accommodate the largest liners and cruisers with terminals, loading docks, etc.

What is really remarkable on St. Kitts and Nevis is the nature. Many tropical birds which one rarely finds elsewhere are present in great concentration, and there are also the famous introduced African Green Vervet Monkeys which, it is said, were brought in by the pirates.

A relatively new road permits driving to the southeastern tip of St Kitts (Turtle Beach) where one feels that a certain febrility in the air will make of this part of the island an appreciated place. Indeed, one has only to take a little adventure in the underwoods with some fruit in hand to see oneself quite soon surrounded by monkeys coming gently to meet one to get fed. For the inhabitants of the islands, on the other hand, the monkeys are not perceived as a joy, for these pretty little hairy beings plunder the harvest and nose around everywhere they can go.

Talk
The national language is English, although often spoken with a heavy regional lilt.

By plane
Robert L Bradshaw International has flights from a number of cities in USA and Canada.

By boat
Daily ferries are available between St. Kitts and Nevis. There is an occasional ferry between St. Kitts and St. Maarten (roughly every three to four weeks).

Many cruise ships visit the island, more during high season. Large ships dock at the main pier at Basseterre.

By car
Taxies and buses outnumber those needing them in St. Kitts. Be sure to negotiate upfront the costs of the trip, pay special attention to if the fare is in US or EC dollars. For those who wish to rent a car, there are several places where you can rent one and temporary drivers licenses are available.

By bus
Buses transit between the larger destinations on a regular basis during the day. The main bus stops in Basseterre include the ferry pier, Baker's Corner and points along Cayon Road.

By train
Go on the scenic railway tour that goes through portions of the narrow gauge railway that was used for transporting sugar.

See
The largest historical site is the UNESCO listed Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park. A British fortification this was once referred to as the Gibraltar of the Caribbean. In the past several decades the fort has been under significant restoration, and is now a popular tourist destination on the island.

Entrance fee is $10 USD per adult.

Do

 * The mountains of St. Kitts make for some wonderful hiking in the tropical rain forest environment. It is highly recommended that anyone unfamiliar with the island go on a guided tour, as most of the trails are not well marked. There are some short rain forest walks, including a well-maintained trail above Romney Manor that travels along and across the Wingfield's river. This is probably the best marked trail, complete with ropes and steps. For those looking for more of a challenge, hiking up to the rim of the mile-wide crater on Mt. Liamuiga is much more difficult, but with a very rewarding view. Although it can be completed in under two hours (not including traveling time), it's best to plan at least three - particularly if you wish to enjoy a long lunch at the top. This trail is well-traveled, but it is not well maintained otherwise, and it is very common to have fallen trees across the path. Trails that are less well traveled, but worth the trip (if you have a guide) are Dos D'ane Pond (on top of Verchild's Mountain), and the Old Military Trail that crosses the middle of the island, from Romney Manor to Philip's (above Molineaux). The Old Military Trail is the historic path used by the British when the island was split with the French, and provided the only land route to connect the British villages on the Atlantic side to the Caribbean side.
 * Scuba diving is popular on St. Kitts; scenic wreck dives include the wreck of the River Taw.
 * Golf course at the St. Kitts Marriott

Buy
See also Basseterre.

 * Just in the Sun Boutique, Marriott Resort, Frigate Bay, St. Kitts

Eat
A number of restaurants are located in Frigate Bay. Mr. X's Shiggity Shack, Cathy's, Patsy's, Boozies and Vibes Beach Bar on South Frigate Bay beach are more traditional, casual beach bar restaurants.

On the opposite side, on North Frigate Bay, there are several western-style restaurants, including Ciao (Italian), Rock Lobster (seafood, mixed American and Caribbean) and PJ's (American, delicious pasta).

South Friars is home to Godfather's, Jam Rock, Carambola Beach Club and Shipwreck Beach Bar.

Cockleshell is home to Lion's Beach Bar, Spice Mill and Reggae Beach Bar.

Around the island there is also the Royal Palm at Ottley's Plantation (upscale), Sprat Net (casual, seafood) and Nirvana Restaurant.

In Basseterre you will find Circus Grill, Ballahoo, and in Fortlands there is Serendipity (upscale) and Ocean Terrace Inn's Fisherman's Wharf.

Drink
There are many local spots to get drinks (locally bottled soda and beer). These include little bars along the side of the road throughout the towns and cities, especially down by the ferry pier. On the southern peninsula there are a number of beach bars and bar/restaurants. On South Friar's Bay beach and South Frigate Bay beach in particular there are a number of beach bar 'shacks' along the beach serving drinks and some offering food.
 * Lion's Beach Bar, Cockleshell Beach.

Stay safe
Although attacks on tourists are rare for the most part, Saint Kitts does have one of the highest murder rates per head of population the Caribbean region. Accordingly, visitors should exercise appropriate care. On 14 November 2010 an armed robbery of a bus carrying tourists shocked the island, and although no one was hurt and the criminals were apprehended swiftly, a number of cruise lines suspended visits to Saint Kitts.

Go next
If you visit Saint Kitts, do make sure to visit its sister island Nevis too. If you have a car, you can drive all the way southeast to Majors Bay, and then take the "Sea Bridge" ferry over. That ferry runs every 2 hours during the day time, and takes about 20 minutes to get to Cades Bay on Nevis.

If you are without a car, you can take any one of the regular ferries that go from Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts, to Charlestown, which is the capital of Nevis. That trip takes about 40 minutes and is very scenic. It's well worth doing just for the views, but Charlestown is also a very picturesque and interesting destination.

title: Saint Kitts


text:
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis are a pair of tropical islands in the Caribbean, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago. What is really remarkable on Saint Kitts and Nevis is the natural aspect. Many tropical birds which one rarely finds elsewhere are present in great concentration in the nature and there are also the famous monkeys which, it is said, were introduced by the pirates. It is called "The Mother Colony of the West Indies".

Understand
As if it were the custom in the Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis changed hands many times between English and French, which has left it a heritage of cities with names from both countries. Contrariwise, the architecture in the island nation is very British (Victorian style) with driving on the left and especially in downtown Basseterre: Circus Place the reproduction of the 'Berkeley Memorial Clock'.

The islands became an associated state of the United Kingdom with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.

There are also several ancient British fortifications which have been restored with minutiae and reproducing the tiniest details of original construction. Saint Kitts and Nevis will be called to be developed in the near future, in fact many projects are in progress or completion, notably vast dockings to accommodate the largest liners and cruisers with terminals, loading docks, etc.

An road permits going to the southeast end of Saint Kitts (Turtle Beach) where one feels that a certain febrility in the air will make of this part of the island an appreciated place. Indeed, one has only to take a little adventure in the underwoods with some fruit in hand to see oneself quite soon surrounded by monkeys coming gently to meet one to get fed. For the inhabitants of the islands, on the other hand, the monkeys are not perceived as big a joy, for these pretty little hairy beings plunder the harvest and nose around everywhere they can go.

Climate
Tropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November).

Landscape
With coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a three km wide channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the centre of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that of its sister island. The highest point is Mount Liamuiga (Saint Kitts) at 1,156 metres.

Tourist information

 * Saint Kitts Tourism website
 * Nevis Tourism website

Entry requirements
Citizens of Commonwealth countries, Organization of American States (except the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and the following countries do not require visas: Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Kingdom of the Netherlands (incl. Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten in addition to the Netherlands in Europe), Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, UK and the United Arab Emirates.

Visa applications must be mailed to the Embassy in Washington, D.C. Included in your submission should be the original completed application form (you cannot copy the form and send it), your passport (valid for at least 6 months after visiting Saint Kitts and Nevis, 2 passport-size photographs and the visa fee (US$50). You must also include the mailing fee. The normal fee is $5, but if you want express overnight postage, the fee is $15.75.

By plane
Robert L Bradshaw International on St. Kitts is the main hub of the islands.

 * Daily flights are available from San Juan, PR on American Eagle, as well as through British Virgin Islands/Tortola. American Airlines flies three times a week from Miami (more flights during the tourist season), twice a week to New York. Delta Air Lines has non stop service to St. Kitts from Atlanta.
 * From Britain, British Airways has non-stop flights from London Gatwick. These flights are once a week, on Saturdays.
 * From Canada, there is a non-stop flight from Toronto to St. Kitts beginning in December until April with Air Canada Rouge.
 * Leeward Islands Air Transport (Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, San Juan, Tortola) DHC8-100, 300

Vance W. Amory International Airport on Nevis has connections from a number of Caribbean hubs.

By boat
Makana Ferry offers crossings to Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, and Saba on Mondays and Fridays.

There is a ferry to Charlestown in Nevis from Montserrat that seems to have a random schedule.

There is a cruise ship terminal as well as a marina for yachts in Basseterre.

Take a catamaran/snorkel excursion with Blue Water Safaris or Leeward Island Charters.

You can also charter a boat with No Problem Boat Charters.

For the ferry from St Kitts (Majors Bay) to Nevis (Cades Bay) you can take the Sea Bridge which runs from 8AM till 7PM.

By ferry
Several ferries run every day between Charlestown, the capital of Nevis, and Basseterre, which is the capital of St. Kitts.

By train
There is a scenic railway tour that goes on portions of the narrow gauge railway that was used for the sugar mill. If more than one large cruise ship visits the island, organized train tours can fill the train. The train has double-decker observation cars; the upper level is open with a canopy. Each car has a restroom and bar, and a choir may be on hand to sing Caribbean favorites. If you're new to narrow gauge rail travel, the track has more and tighter bends than a standard gauge railway. This leads to more swaying of the cars and more frequent screeching as the wheels go around curves.

By car
Taxis and buses outnumber those needing them in St. Kitts. Be sure to negotiate upfront the costs of the trip, pay special attention if the fare is in US or EC dollars. Taxis charge 50% extra from 10PM to 6AM, and drivers expect a 10% tip.

Temporary driver's licences are available, and there are several car rentals agencies.

There are many popular tour guides in St. Kitts that will give you a tour of the island. One such tour guide is Thenford Grey's Island Tours or Grey's Island Excursions.

By bus
Micro buses form the public transportation system on the island. These are much cheaper than taxis and can be flagged down while in route. If they are full the driver will flash their lights and proceed on. Service does not generally extend to Frigate Bay or the Southern Peninsula. That is the domain of taxis. Taxis and buses use the same format of Micro buses, the difference is that taxis have a yellow licence plate and start with the letter T, and buses have a green one which starts with the letter H.

Bus fare is EC$2.70 for a trip of 5 miles or under (2016), and up to 50% more for longer rides. Buses do not operate after 7-8PM.

Talk
The language of Saint Kitts and Nevis is English. However if you have never visited the Caribbean before you may have difficulty understanding the patois, or more correctly the Creole language, spoken by the locals which is based on the English language but to the untrained ear sounds nothing like it.

For example "a-come" means coming "a-knock" means knocking. Most notable is the simplification of use of pronouns as in "I and I" which replaces all other pronouns like she/he, we/my, yours, hers/his and ours. The vocabulary is based not only on English but also on Spanish as well as indigenous and West African languages

See
Of course, with an area no larger than 261 km², Saint Kitts and Nevis has a somewhat limited (but not absent!) array of typical sights. It's hardly a set back for visitors to these two small islands though, as they have all the enchanting natural beauty of the Caribbean.

Its strategic location made Saint Kitts a colonial hotspot and a focus point of European nations in their struggle for power over the West Indies islands. The colonial settlers rapidly expanded sugar plantations and imported African slaves, thus laying the foundations for the islands' colourful culture. Festivities, crafts and other displays of that culture are among the islands' main tourist attractions now, as are the ruins of the many plantations. The Scenic Railway, travelling on the tracks of the old sugar train railway, is a great way to see the best of them. However, nothing makes the islands' history as tangible as the impressive and well preserved remains of the Brimstone Hill Fortress. It's both a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and provides some stunning views over the surrounding area and even some nearby islands. Only a few ruins and some cannons remain of Fort Charles on Nevis, the fortifications of Charlestown.

Basseterre is a pleasant place and has a view sights, including St. George's Anglican Church and Indepence Square, once the site of the slave market. The impressive 1894 Old Treasury building, built as the gateway to Basseterre, is an important historic sight but also houses the National Museum with expositions on the history, identity and independence of the island.

The islands' countryside is lovely, with panoramic views of green hills covered in rain forest as well as beaches and of course the bright blue sea. The main road circling the island will take you to most points of interests, some great beaches and several villages. The hike up Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano on St. Kitts and the highest peak of the islands, is particularly popular and worthwhile for the great views from the top.

Diving
Diving sites are ample and gorgeous, serving both beginning and experienced divers. Of course there's a broad and colourful range of reefs and sea life to see, but also ship wrecks and caves. For beginners, the Monkey Shoals and Friars Bay Reef are good and easily reachable sites. Sandy Point is a National Marine Park for its beautiful coral heads and magnificent sea life. The Wreck of River Taw, M.V. Talata Wreck and the Wreck of the Corinthian (sunk in 1995) are popular sites. Turtle Bar is of course famous for the many turtles that roam the site, but you'll also commonly spot them at Frigate Bay Reef. For more experienced divers, the strong currents at Nags Head are a nice challenge, and the broad range of fish at Aquarium is a good spot.

Money
The currency of the country is the East Caribbean dollar, denoted by the symbol: "$" or "EC$" (ISO currency code: XCD), which is also used by seven other island nations in the Caribbean. The EC dollar is subdivided into 100 cents. It is pegged to the United States dollar at an exchange rate of US$1 = EC$2.70.

Coins circulate in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 cents and 1 dollar. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars.

Costs
Contrary to the myth that all Caribbean countries are expensive, prices on Nevis are pretty reasonable. Fuel is expensive as it has to be imported but as the island is small you won't be using that much anyway. Many everyday products can be bought at a reasonable price and depending where you go eating out is affordable for most. Fresh food although limited in choice by American and British standards is also reasonably priced.

Stay safe
The Mount Liamuiga hiking excursion offered by many cruise ship lines involves some climbing, at times necessitating the scaling of rocks by hand. To reach the last lookout, you have to grab onto a rope and hoist yourself onto a rock ledge and climbing over large fallen trees.

The trails are not marked, and consist of little more than a space between two trees, or two rocks and can be muddy, there is little shelter from the rain, and no toilets.

Saint Kitts and Nevis is unfortunately within the Caribbean Hurricane Belt and so all the protocols relating to hurricane safety should be followed if you are travelling during hurricane season.

Stay healthy
Tap water is safe to drink.

Respect
It is important when in the city and other public places (airport, downtown, stores) to wear shoes and a shirt. It is a sign of disrespect to be wearing beach attire in the city. Loud public swearing is also looked down upon and you can be fined for it.

title: Saint Kitts and Nevis


text:
Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres

Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres is a town in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southeastern France.

title: Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres


text:
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni

Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is a city in French Guiana. It is also the name of the commune. It is the second most populous city of French Guiana, with 50,250 people.

Understand
Originally Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni was an arrival point for prisoners. Eventually it became a special prison commune. In 1949, it became a regular commune.

The official tourism office maintains a pretty up-to-date website.

By bus
Buses from Cayenne and Kourou take you to Iracoubo, from where there are buses to Saint-Laurent. There are also direct minibuses that don't run on fixed schedules. A minibus ride will cost you around €35.

By car
Route Nationale 1 from Cayenne ends in Saint-Laurent. From the Surinamese side you can take your car with you on the ferry.

By boat
From Albina, Suriname, you can cross the Maroni river by ferry to Saint-Laurent.

By plane
Saint-Laurent is a hub for Air Guyane Express, which has flights from Cayenne, Paramaribo, and some inland settlements.

Get around
The town isn't particularly large and you can get everywhere by foot.

See
The Camp de la Transportation on rue Tanon is Saint-Laurent's reason for being. It's where prisoners (including the famous Papillon) arrived for processing. Guided tours only (90 minutes, €9). Most guides speak some English. The tour includes the cells and public execution areas.

There are also other buildings from that age - in the 19th and early 20th century the region was first and foremost a penal colony.

Do

 * Rent a canoe from Maroni Club on Esplanade Baudin.

 * Tropic-Cata give boat tours.

 * The city serves as the point of departure for several ecotourism circuits, most notably journeys upriver to explore the many creeks as well as the Amazonian rainforest.

 * Hike to Voltaire Falls Though challenging, this 12.5-mile out-and-back trail lets you experience the largest waterfalls in French Guiana.

Go next
Most visitors go either west to Suriname or east, further into French Guiana. Another alternative is to travel upstream by boat. 17 km south you will find another penal colony, Saint-Jean. 50 km upstream there's the village of Apatou and a further 20 km south there are the Voltaire Falls.

title: Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni


text:
St. Lawrence

St. Lawrence is a town of 1,100 people (2021) on the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. St. Lawrence calls itself the 'Soccer Capital of Canada', and St. Lawrence Centennial Soccer Field has been listed as one of the Historic Places of Canada since 2005.

Understand
The St. Lawrence soccer teams have been a powerhouse of soccer on the Burin Peninsula. The town has nine organized soccer teams. Provincial-level culminated in the St. Lawrence Laurentians being named the "Team of the Decade" for the 1970s and 1990s.

History
St. Lawrence was named by a group of shipwrecked sailors who came to the New Found Land in 1583 with Sir Humphrey Gilbert. During the expedition their vessel, HMS Delight, sank off Sable Island. Sixteen of her crew drifted in a lifeboat for 7 days before coming ashore on the South Coast in Little St. Lawrence.

The area was known to English, French, and Basque fishermen in the 1500s and there were a few French stages at St Lawrence for the early French ship fishermen for the fishing season. Permanent settlement actually began in the early to mid-1700s. Captain James Cook surveyed the St. Lawrence area and vicinity in 1765. St. Lawrence was a hive of activity in 1784 when Newmans opened its store in Little St. Lawrence and business was soon rivalling that of St. John's (the capital city). Newmans closed its Little St. Lawrence store in 1811.

Fishing was the main economic activity of the area for hundreds of years due to its proximity to the Grand Banks. A tsunami devastated the area following the 1929 Grand Banks earthquake; 27 people lost their lives, and many along the coast lost their houses, boats, stages and supplies. This added greatly to the hardship already inflicted by the Great Depression and the collapse of the saltfish trade.

The mining of fluorspar deposits began in 1933. The fluorspar mine in St. Lawrence was a major employer in the community until 1978, when the mine was closed.

On February 18, 1942, more than 200 American sailors died when the USS Truxton ran aground near Chambers Cove and the USS Pollux ran aground at Lawn Point. Tremendous community efforts and personal bravery by the citizens of Lawn and St. Lawrence reduced the high death toll. In 1954 the U.S. Navy built a hospital at St. Lawrence in gratitude for their work.

Get in
St. Lawrence is 345 km by road (about 4 hr 45 min) from St. John's, which has the nearest major airport.

Take the Trans-Canada Highway from St. John's to Goobies (which is a real place), and turn west onto Route 210 toward Marystown. At Marystown, continue south (not west) onto Route 220 to St. Lawrence.

Buy

 * The Museum Gift Shop at the St. Lawrence Miners Museum (see "See" above) sells jewellery made from fluorspar extracted locally from the only Fluorspar deposit in Canada. This beautifully coloured stone is hand-carved and polished in their own workshop and set in distinctive jewellery. This stone comes in 30 shades from green to blue to pink to red.

Drink

 * The Stag Bar in the Oceanview Motel is open nightly.
 * Sweepers Lounge on Corporation Place and is home to numerous dart leagues.

title: St. Lawrence