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Encyclopedia entry: St John's
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MELVIN BAKER
Canadian Encyclopedia
01-01-2002
St John's
Author: MELVIN BAKER
The capital and largest city of Newfoundland, and reputedly Canada's oldest city, St John's is located on the eastern side of theAVALON PENINSULA of southeast Newfoundland. Its landlocked harbour is approached through a long, narrow channel and is protected by the high hills on which the city is built. The origin of the name St John's is not known, but its use appears on a Portuguese map by Rienel (1516-20) as"Rio de San Johem" and later, in a 1527 letter by the English seaman John Rut, as the"Haven of St John's." According to popular folklore, however, the city takes its name from ...