41:, bordered north and south by steep rock walls. A skilled captain is required to navigate large ships through the Narrows, known as “threading the eye of the needle”. The channel has a least depth of 11 metres and at its narrowest point near Chain Rock is 61 metres wide. From at least circa 1830, metal rings were set into the rock on either side of the Narrows so that boats could "warp in" and be hauled along to clear the cliffs and dangerous rocks in the water. In 1855, work began to blast away the submerged top of the Merlin Rock to make a safer passage for steam ships.
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was erected across the narrows from Chain Rock to
Pancake Rock which could be raised in the event of enemy ships advancing into the harbour. During World War II a steel mesh was installed to prevent enemy
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The south side of the
Narrows was referred to as South Battery before 1800, then the residential fishing community was known as Southside East, and finally
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197:. Digitized Maps from the Queen Elizabeth II Library Map Room, call no. G 3439 S33 1909 R9 Rare Oversize: McAlpine Publishing Co (Halifax, NS).
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Sailing directions for the islands of
Newfoundland and coast of Labrador including the straits of Belle Isle and banks of Newfoundland
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84:, now a heritage site, was erected at South Head, at the entrance to the Narrows to guide approaching vessels.
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and enemy vessels from entering the port. In the mid 17th century, fortifications, known as
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The
Narrows has served an important defense of the city of St. John’s from early
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was built in the same area. In the late 18th century a
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261:Landforms of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
30:, is the only passage from the Atlantic Ocean to
115:. St. John’s, NL: Jesperson Publishing Limited.
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142:. London: R. & W. Blachford. p. 6.
91:, which includes the historic lighthouse.
170:Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador
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113:Fort Amherst. St. John's Nearest Outport
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266:Straits of Newfoundland and Labrador
157:. St. John's, NL. August 14, 1855.
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20:View of St. John's Narrows from
194:Plan of the City of St. John's
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56:on the south side to prevent
136:Blachford, William (1830).
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77:from entering the harbor.
207:: CS1 maint: location (
111:Power, Rosalind (1995).
89:Fort Amherst, St. John's
48:and settlers in 1655 to
82:Fort Amherst Lighthouse
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237:47.56583°N 52.68417°W
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168:Volume four, p. 12,
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191:Ryan, W.P. (1909).
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66:Fort Amherst
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39:Newfoundland
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240: /
62:Signal Hill
28:The Narrows
255:Categories
228:52°41′03″W
225:47°33′57″N
122:0921692692
95:References
75:submarines
58:privateers
32:St. John's
203:cite book
22:The Rooms
46:pirates
35:Harbour
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209:link
175:ISBN
117:ISBN
80:The
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