St. John's is the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. It is considered to be the most populated city within the Metropolitan Area, and is the second biggest CMA within the Atlantic Provinces. The city of St. John's is the oldest English-established settlement within North America, and tradition credits the explorer, John Cabot for the name of the city. John Cabot is the first European to sail into the harbor. In 1500, it was officially founded as a community by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, who declared it an English settlement in the year 1583. The area has seen a lot of transformations, mainly in the 20th century, where oil fields, service centres and modern export strengthened St. John's economic output to a much higher level.
The city provides various attractions to tourists. Signal Hill has a panoramic view of the city, Atlantic Ocean and port, and is the site of many military endeavours over the centuries. In the year 1901, it was on the receiving end of Marconi's first transatlantic wireless signal. Cape Spear National Historic Site is believed to be the most easterly point within North America. Famous for its spectacular coastal scenery, this main attraction is the oldest surviving lighthouse within Newfoundland which was completely restored to its original appearance.
There are many unique marine animals which make their home along the coastal waters of Labrador and Newfoundland, including humpback, minke, right, sei, blue, pothead, see fin and sperm whales. A marine bird sanctuary sits outside the city limits, and features seabirds and other marine life during summertimes. Tourists to the area may be able to see the iceburg from certain vantage points within the city. The Fluvarium is where people can view Brook and Brown Trout within their natural environment. The Grand Concourse is one of the main attractions within St. John. It is a series of urban walkways, fluvarium, connecting parks, historic places, scenic ponds, and Victorian architecture. Johnson GEO Centre has an exhibit area which geographically features natural rock walls that remain exposed in the exhibit areas. These rocks show the history of Newfoundland and Labrador that extends 3.7 billion years ago. The Room at Fort Townshend is a contemporary cultural centre that protects and preserves the historical and cultural heritage of the province. The Botanical Gardens of Memorial University covers approximately 45 hectares of land near the center of the city of St. John's. It is unique because it not only offers a botanical garden, but it also provides a natural reserve of about 212 kinds of ferns and flowering plants, 20 kinds of birds, and 26 kinds of butterflies.
The continued growth of St. John's could be attributed to gas and oil in its oceans. The city has been recognized as having among the highest proportion of engineers and scientists per capita of any city under one million population in North America. Economic forecasts predict that the city will continue to be strong in its economy in the future not just because of its natural resources, but likewise due to its tourism and new home construction.