Saint John, New Brunswick, is a Canadian city located on the shore of the Bay of Fundy, where the St. John River meets the bay. It is the only city on the shore of the Bay of Fundy and is known for having the world's highest tides. Saint John is Canada's oldest incorporated city, established by royal charter on May 18, 1785, during the reign of King George III. The city has a rich history, dating back to the French colonial era, and was an important centre for trade and defence. Today, Saint John is a popular tourist destination, offering cultural attractions and natural wonders, such as the Reversing Falls Rapids and Rockwood Park.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Location | Where the St. John River meets the Bay of Fundy, in southern New Brunswick, Canada |
Population | 69,895 |
Population Density | 221.5 inhabitants per square kilometre |
Area | 315.59 km2 |
Metropolitan Area | 3,509.62 km2 |
Type of Settlement | Canada's oldest incorporated city |
Tourist Attractions | Reversing Falls Rapids, City Market, New Brunswick Museum, Rockwood Park, Carleton Martello Tower, King's Square, Irving Nature Park |
What You'll Learn
- Saint John is a seaport city located on the Bay of Fundy
- It is Canada's oldest incorporated city
- The city is located where the St. John River meets the Bay of Fundy
- Saint John is the only city on the shore of the Bay of Fundy
- It is known for its historic uptown streetscapes, cultural attractions and natural wonders
Saint John is a seaport city located on the Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy, renowned for its dramatic tidal range, plays a significant role in the city's prosperity. The bay's tides prevent the harbour from freezing, making the city accessible throughout the year. This advantage has contributed to the development of various industries, including shipbuilding, shipping, and lumber trade. Saint John was once the biggest shipbuilding city in British North America, and its port remains crucial for trade.
In addition to its economic significance, the Bay of Fundy also offers natural attractions such as the Reversing Falls Rapids, where the bay collides with the Saint John River, creating impressive rapids and small waterfalls. The city's location on the bay also provides access to other natural wonders like the Irving Nature Park, which offers breathtaking views of the bay and a variety of habitats, including forests, salt marshes, and beaches.
Saint John's historical significance is evident in its uptown streetscapes, with architectural styles spanning from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The city has a diverse cultural scene, including the Imperial Theatre, which hosts plays, concerts, and productions throughout the year. The city's market square, located in the historic uptown area, features former warehouses that now house boutiques, restaurants, and pubs, offering a blend of old and new.
The city's location on the Bay of Fundy has also made it a popular destination for tourists seeking to explore the natural wonders of the area, including the famous tides and the surrounding marine life. Whale watching, kayaking, and other outdoor activities are popular attractions for visitors to the region.
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It is Canada's oldest incorporated city
Saint John, New Brunswick, is Canada's oldest incorporated city. It was established by royal charter on May 18, 1785, during the reign of King George III. The city was incorporated following the arrival of thousands of refugees from the newly founded United States who wished to remain British after the American Revolution.
Saint John was formed by uniting the two communities of Parr-town and Carleton, on either side of the harbour. The city's charter of 1785 established the medical quarantine station at Partridge Island, located in the harbour. The charter also included provisions to regulate local fishing rights, establish police and fire services, regulate trade and taxation, dedicate Navy Island for the use of the Royal Navy, and build a lighthouse on Partridge Island.
The city's location at the mouth of the Saint John River, where it meets the Bay of Fundy, has been of major importance to its prosperity. The bay's dramatic tidal range prevents the harbour from icing over, allowing the city to remain accessible all year round. This made it an ideal location for shipbuilding, shipping, and the lumber trade. By 1840, one-third of New Brunswick's timber, as well as two-thirds of its sawn lumber and manufactured wood products, were exported through Saint John. The city was also British North America's biggest shipbuilding hub, constructing famous ships like the Marco Polo.
Saint John's status as Canada's oldest incorporated city is further solidified by its rich history, which extends back thousands of years. The area was inhabited by the Maliseet and Miꞌkmaq First Nations prior to the arrival of European colonists. During the 17th century, a French settlement was established, and the city served as the seat for the administration under Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour during the Acadian Civil War. The French position was abandoned in 1755, and British forces took over shortly afterward.
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The city is located where the St. John River meets the Bay of Fundy
Saint John, New Brunswick, is a seaport city located on the Bay of Fundy in Canada. It is Canada's oldest incorporated city, established by royal charter in 1785 during the reign of King George III. The city is located where the Saint John River meets the Bay of Fundy. The river flows into the bay through a narrow gorge in the centre of the city, creating a unique phenomenon known as the Reversing Falls. Here, the powerful tides of the bay reverse the water flow of the river for several kilometres.
The Saint John River is a 673-kilometre-long river that flows within the Dawnland region from headwaters in the Notre Dame Mountains near the Maine-Quebec border through western New Brunswick to the northwest shore of the Bay of Fundy. It is Eastern Canada's longest river, and its drainage basin is one of the largest on the east coast. The river was named by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, who landed at Saint John Harbour on the feast day of St. John the Baptist in 1604. The indigenous Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqiyik peoples called the river "Wolastoq".
The city of Saint John is split by the south-flowing Saint John River, and the east side is bordered by the Kennebecasis River, which meets the Saint John River at Grand Bay. Saint John Harbour, where the two rivers meet the bay, is a deep-water port that remains ice-free all year round. The city has a hilly topography due to the influence of two coastal mountain ranges running along the Bay of Fundy: the St. Croix Highlands and the Caledonia Highlands.
Saint John is the only city located on the Bay of Fundy, which is known for its astonishingly high tides that can rise up to 16 metres. The city's uptown area rises majestically from the shores of the bay, providing a front-row view of its natural wonders. The powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy and the Reversing Falls showcase the raw force of nature, making Saint John a city defined by its natural surroundings.
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Saint John is the only city on the shore of the Bay of Fundy
Saint John is a seaport city located on the Bay of Fundy in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It is the only city on the shore of the Bay of Fundy, which separates New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in eastern Canada. The Bay of Fundy is known for having the world's highest tides, with waters rising and receding by up to 19 metres twice daily. This natural phenomenon is intensified by the funnel-like shape of the bay, creating a powerful rush of water that shapes the coastline and exposes sea caves, cliffs, and other geological features.
Saint John is Canada's oldest incorporated city, established by royal charter in 1785 during the reign of King George III. It has a rich history, dating back to the arrival of French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1604, who named the Saint John River after the feast of St. John the Baptist. The area was also inhabited by indigenous peoples, including the Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Passamaquoddy Nation.
The city has a long tradition of shipbuilding and was once British North America's biggest shipbuilding hub. It is also known for its stone carvings and sculptures, with many buildings constructed using brick and stone. Saint John is home to several historic sites, including Fort Howe, Carleton Martello Tower, and the Imperial Theatre. The city offers a vibrant cultural scene, including art galleries, museums, and performing arts venues.
The surrounding Bay of Fundy region boasts a diverse natural landscape, with towering cliffs, sandy beaches, and charming coastal communities. The Hopewell Rocks, located near Saint John, are a popular attraction where visitors can witness the power of the tides and explore giant sea stack monoliths. The Bay of Fundy is also a prime destination for whale watching, with up to 12 species of whales and other marine life visiting its waters during the summer months.
The city of Saint John itself is situated at the mouth of the Saint John River, where it meets the Bay of Fundy. The harbour is a deep-water port that remains ice-free year-round, making the city accessible throughout the year. The unique geography of the bay and the river creates a phenomenon known as the Reversing Falls, where the tides reverse the flow of the river for several kilometres.
With its strategic location, historical significance, and natural wonders, Saint John stands as the only city gracing the shore of the Bay of Fundy, offering a unique blend of cultural and natural experiences to its visitors.
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It is known for its historic uptown streetscapes, cultural attractions and natural wonders
Saint John, New Brunswick, is a seaport city located on the Bay of Fundy in Canada. It is known for its historic uptown streetscapes, cultural attractions, and natural wonders.
The city boasts a multitude of architectural styles, with buildings featuring Victorian, Romanesque Revival, and Second Empire designs. The Trinity Royal Heritage Conservation Area, introduced in 1982, preserves the historic districts and buildings in the city, including the King's Square, an urban park located in the Uptown region. The square features historic buildings such as the Saint John City Market, the Imperial Theatre, and the former Admiral Beatty Hotel.
Saint John is also home to several museums, including the New Brunswick Museum, Canada's first public museum, and the Carleton Martello Tower, a War of 1812 masonry tower. The city's cultural scene includes the Imperial Theatre, which hosts plays, concerts, and other stage productions, as well as art galleries such as the Paris Crew, Trinity Galleries, and the Saint John Arts Centre.
In terms of natural wonders, Saint John offers the Reversing Falls Rapids, located just two miles southwest of Uptown. This unique natural site features gurgling whirlpools, rapids, and small waterfalls that change direction with the incoming and outgoing tides. The city is also home to Rockwood Park, a large municipal park with freshwater lakes, caves, and waterfalls, and the Irving Nature Park, a 600-acre green space with breathtaking views of the Bay of Fundy.
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Frequently asked questions
Saint John is located in the south-central portion of the province of New Brunswick, Canada, on the shore of the Bay of Fundy.
Saint John has a variety of attractions, including the Reversing Falls Rapids, the City Market, the New Brunswick Museum, and Rockwood Park.
As of the 2021 census, Saint John had a population of 69,895 people.
The climate of Saint John is humid continental (Köppen climate classification Dfb), with warm to hot summers and cold winters. The Bay of Fundy moderates winter temperatures, preventing the harbour from freezing.