Galapagos Of Geology

OVERVIEW

See firsthand why Newfoundland is called the “Galapagos of Geology” by visiting some of its most geologically significant sites, including a museum that reveals how the landscape was created. Your first stop will be at the small boat basin near Fort Amherst. The area has been deemed a National Historic Site for its strategic importance. It’s significant geologically because you can easily make out an ancient fault line from the hilltop. Another panoramic vista awaits you at nearby Signal Hill, where Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901. While strolling the boardwalks, you will learn about the formation of the rocky coastline. Then, for the ultimate immersion into Newfoundland’s unique geology, you will browse the exhibits in the Johnson Geo Centre. You may see fossils from the floor of the sea, some of the Earth’s oldest rocks, and a geological timetable that may explain how the Earth was formed.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Peruse key geological formations around St. John’s, including an ancient fault line.
• Learn how the rocky coastline was formed while strolling the boardwalks below Signal Hill.
• See fossils from the ocean floor and some of the Earth’s oldest rocks in the Johnson Geo Centre.
• Gain insight into the process of extracting fossil fuel from the ground

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.