Twillingate

History

The earliest known people to inhabit the area were the Maritime Archaic, who occupied the area 3,500 years ago in roughly 1500 BC. The Maritime Archaic people were later supplanted by the Beothuk, and possibly the Dorset Inuit, who occupied the area until the arrival of European settlers. The French had been fishing in the area possibly as early as 1500, but the first European settlers did not arrive until the 17th century. The settlers were mostly made up of fishermen and their families from the West Country in England. Lewisporte based newspaper the Pilot then served the area until going defunct in 2018. Since the Fisheries and Oceans Canada moratorium on fishing northern cod (see Endangered Species Controversies in Canada and Europe) was announced on July 2, 1992, followed shortly after by the collapse of the fishing industry, Twillingate has been forced to look to the tourist industry for income and has become a popular spot for visitors in the summer.

Geography

Twillingate is easily accessed by Route 340 from Lewisporte if approaching from western Newfoundland or by Route 330 from Gander if approaching from eastern Newfoundland. The town of Twillingate is approximately 1.5 hours from Gander and about an hour from Lewisporte. There are several very small fishing communities that can be found on Twillingate Island before reaching the main town, such as Black Duck Cove, Purcell's Harbour, and Little Harbour. The western portion of the island, a series of communities now amalgamated into Bayview is accessible via Bayview Street. The town of Twillingate is about from the Twillingate-New World Island causeway. When in the town, access to the northern island is provided by "Tickle Bridge" and the communities on the southern island can be accessed via the town's main road. Route 340 runs through Twillingate as Toulinguet Street and Main Street. After turning left at the town's main intersection (Toulinguet and Main), Route 340 runs through northern portion of the town and continues through the surrounding communities on the northern island, Back Harbour, Paradise and Wild Cove, then after a 0.5 km stretch enters the town of Crow Head and continues to the Long Point Lighthouse. The highest point in Twillingate can be reached via the "Top of Twillingate Walking Trail", which is located off Bayview Street. Elevation varies significantly throughout the town. The main southern and northern sides of the town in addition to the neighbourhoods of Wild Cove, Back Harbour, Hart's Cove, and portions of Bayview and Durrell are near sea level. Other parts of Durrell, Bayview and the central area of the town are situated on more elevated land. The region is known for its scenic, rugged coastline and its quiet and friendly atmosphere.…

Most-observed species

• American herring gull, Smithsonian Gull

  Larus smithsonianus Coues, 1862 · Aves
  539
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  465
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  410
• Great Black-backed Gull

  Larus marinus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  402
• Double-crested Cormorant

  Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson, 1831) · Aves
  315
• White-throated Sparrow

  Zonotrichia albicollis (J.F.Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  309
• Dark-eyed Junco

  Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  293
• Fox Sparrow

  Passerella iliaca (Merrem, 1786) · Aves
  286