AVALON PENINSULA: While not the largest peninsula, the Avalon Peninsula is large - so large it takes up a major part of the southeast portion of the island.

With all its bays and coves, the peninsula itself is 9,200 km2 (3,560 mi) in size.

But what makes the peninsula so "unique" is that over 50% of the population of Newfoundland and Labrador lives in this land area.

The peninsula is connected by the Isthmus of Avalon, a strip of land that is 5 km (3 mi) wide. From the north (Grates Point) to the South (Cape Freels- Cape Pine) it is approximately 180 km (112 mi) and from east to west, approximately 100 km (60 mi).

As mentioned earlier, the name of the peninsula stretches back to the early 1600s when Sir George Calvert was given a Royal Charter "extending the Royal lands and granting them the name Province of Avalon "in imitation of Old Avalon in Somersetshire wherein Glassenbury stands, the first fruits of Christianity in Britain as the other was in that party of America".

From the Newfoundland and Labrador website, the following is their description of the Avalon Peninsula: The Avalon Peninsula is not only scenically stunning, it's also a place full of natural wonders:

icebergs drifting along the coasts, whales frolicking, migratory seabirds nesting on cliffs, and caribou roaming. As the first region of the province to be settled, the Avalon is full of the legends, lore, and history of the early adventurers who first laid claim to the New World.

Home to the urban bustle of St. John's, a vibrant culinary scene, and charming outports surrounded by beauty and steeped in history - the Avalon has something to offer every traveller.

The Avalon bears a fitting name, reminiscent of the legend and romanticism of its misty, Arthurian island counterpart.

It is also home to the East Coast Trail, with more than 500 kilometres of scenic hikes, perfect for exploring our stunning coastline.

This is a place full of beauty, culture, and the rugged drama of a seafaring peninsula that has weathered trials, triumphs, and everything in between.

Many of the communities of the Avalon Peninsula have or will be discussed in other sections (e.g., Mount Pearl, Dildo) but those that have not, will be covered in this section, starting with the "western" corner of the peninsula.

Finding out information regarding population counts turned out to be more difficult than expected, as there are a couple of Census Divisions and Subdivisions and in some cases communities are "combined" even though they are not "officially" amalgamated.

THE ISTHMUS OF AVALON: From Sunnyside South one comes to the area that is often referred to as the Isthmus of Avalon, a narrow strip of land approximately 5 km (3 mi) wide.

The area has been in the news lately when The Independent published the article, "Are There Bears on the Avalon Peninsula? An Investigation" by Conor McCann on October 23, 2020.

The article starts with the following words:While there is a healthy population of black bears across the island, there's an old saying in Newfoundland that there are no bears on the Avalon Peninsula.

But changing climates and municipal regulations may have unpredictable effects on the island's black bear population. Every so often there's a story of someone seeing tracks or droppings where bears are apparently-not supposed to be found.

In late May, residents in Placentia were warned of a black bear in the area of Bond's Path and Southeast Road after a number of sightings were reported.

The town shared an image of a paw print found in the mud, measuring 9-inches from heel to claw. And ends with the following "conclusion":

Ultimately, no one really knows why there are no bears on the Avalon- although there are a few running theories.

"I just think it might be the exposure, the vulnerability of it," Fordham explains. "The isthmus is a very narrow neck to come through there, and the fact that they're coming now I think is an indicator that the population is growing, and the animals just have to push out somewhere else."

"Those are the million dollar questions," says Pitcher. "If you or I or anyone else had definitive answers to them, we'd have the substance of a MSc thesis."

Used with permission from "Uncovering the Origin of 1001 Unique Place Names in Newfoundland and Labrador" 2021 Jennifer Leigh Hill

Address of this page: http://nl.ruralroutes.com/AvalonWildernessReserve