主题：北美的“天涯海角”－Cape Spear -- 天下第一银杏树

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山上的湖泊就是海狸的家。

自由时报记者杨诗涵／加拿大报导．摄影) 纽芬兰的地名其实很有趣，必须有点幽默感才能体会。例如我们走的登山路径叫做「死人湾路径」（deadman baypath），要是迷信点的人应该就会摆出臭脸了吧！其实这个字是「缆桩」的意思，正如同邻近省会圣约翰市的绝大多数地名一样，都跟海或捕鱼有关。像是靠海的「路径鱼叉岬」（Cape Spear）、「信号丘」（Signal Hill），都与人和海洋的生存法则脱不了关系。

「死人湾路径」……，不，「缆桩湾路径」，所以会吸引人乖乖前进的最大噱头，是经过一个小时上山路程后，可以看到海狸的家。每当要穿过树枝夹杂的陡峭斜坡，或是手脚并用爬上光秃的山壁，边看海景还要边注意不要摔下悬崖，向导森（Mori）先生就会说：「快到海狸家了喔。」实际上走到终点的山中小湖并不难，视野相当广阔，夕阳的光亮打在圣约翰市，简直跟电影开场用动画动过手脚一样，魔幻而壮观。

至于海狸家是看到了，湖面上有树枝排列的动物巢穴，那海狸呢？森先生说：「还没回家吧。」

鱼叉岬则是沿著海的路径，沿途可以见到当年法国人挖的战壕，更引人的是，纽芬兰和拉布拉多省的座头鲸数量居世界之冠，此行也的确看到远方正在喷水的鲸鱼；如果有带望远镜，还可望见冰山，路径尽头的灯塔，静美如画。

值得一提的是，沿途经过一段悬崖，无法弯身直视其下的海潮，因为太美也太恐怖，森先生开玩笑说：「每次日本人来，都认为这是一个很好的自杀点，如樱花飘落一样灿烂。其实不用那么辛苦克服恐惧感跳下去啦，只要慢慢爬下悬崖，坐在海水里，不用五分钟就会活活冻死。」

纽芬兰及拉布拉多省旅游局的折页上，是这样推荐鱼叉岬的：「北美大陆的极东点，站在这里可以看到北美的第一道曙光。」回程看到这介绍，没想到自己竟然已经去到世界的尽头，也算是迟来的感动。

Cape Spear

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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The 1836 Cape Spear lighthouse

Cape Spear,

47°31.48′ N 52°37.12′ W

located on the

Avalon Peninsula

near

St. John's, Newfoundland

, is the easternmost point in

Canada

(52°37'W). Cape Spear is the first location in

Canada

to see the sun rise each day. Although it has often been reported as the most easterly point in North America, it is not. Nordost Rundingen, Greenland is, in actuality, the most easterly point in North America.

The

Portuguese

named this location "Cabo da Esperança" which means "cape of hope", which became "Cap d'Espoir" in

French

and finally "Cape Spear".

[

edit

]

History

There has been a

lighthouse

operating at Cape Spear since September

1836

. The original Cape Spear lighthouse was the second lighthouse built in

Newfoundland

; the first was built in 1810 at

Fort Amherst

, at the entrance to St. John's Harbour. In

1832

, the first legislative assembly for the colony created a lighthouse board. Cape Spear was chosen as the site for a new lighthouse because it was on the rocky eastern coast near the entrance to St John's harbour.

Construction began in 1834. The first lighthouse was a square wooden building with a tower in the middle containing the light. A

fog horn

was added in 1878. The first light used at Cape Spear had already been used since

1815

at a lighthouse at

Inchkeith

on the east coast of

Scotland

. This light used seven

Argand burner

and curved reflectors. This was later replaced by a

dioptric len

system; the light was first lit by oil, then

acetylene

and finally electricity in

1930

.

Because of its proximity to

convoy

routes during the

Second World War

, a gun battery was installed at Cape Spear to defend the entrance to St. John's harbour. Barracks and underground passages leading to the bunkers were also built for the use of troops stationed there.

A new concrete building was built to house the light in 1955. The original lighthouse building and the light keepers's residence have since been restored. It is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and the location has been designated a

Canadian National Historic Site

.

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Cape Spear, Newfoundland

If you require photos of Cape Spear for your business or publication,

[url=mailto:[email protected]?subject=I am interested in seeing more photos of Cape Spear.]please feel free to contact me[/url]

.

Click on the thumbnail below to see a larger version of the image. Each thumbnail has been identified with a reference number. Please use that reference number when making inquiries.

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C A P

North America's Most Easterly Place, Cape Spear

For those who may wish to stand at the most easterly place in North America, Cape Spear is your answer! It is now a national historic site, after many years of providing continuous service as an manned lighthouse. To get there, head west from downtown St. John's towards the Harbour Arterial. Just past the west end of St. John's Harbour, swing left and over the hill, and then follow the road back east about 10 kilometers (6 miles) to the Cape Spear parking lot. You will lots of hiking trails and spectacular scenery at this spot so bring your walking shoes and a camera.

Although Newfoundland had been inhabited for at least two centuries, it wasn't until 1810 that the first sea navigational light was established at Fort Amherst, on the south shore entrance of St. John's Harbour. In 1832, the Newfoundland legislative assembly authorized the construction of a second lighthouse, this time further east at Cape Spear, but still in sight of the harbour entrance. In September 1836, the lighthouse was operational, a two story structure with the light tower set in the middle of the building.

A fog horn was added in 1878 to help guide mariners into St. John's Harbour in all weather conditions.

Many different light systems were used since 1836, including a variety of fuel sources. Electricity finally became available in 1930 and in 1955, the light system was moved to an unmanned tower near the original site.

During the second world war, Cape Spear was used by allied forces to protect the entrance to St. John's Harbour. Two 10 inch guns were constructed in concrete bunkers at the tip of the Cape. In fact, a German U-boat did fire two torpedoes into the harbour in 1942 but no serious damage occurred. The site today has been restored to the conditions and furnishings that the lighthouse keepers experienced in the 1840s. There is a visitor information center and a gift shop.

Tour guides are available to help you interpret the history of Cape Spear. Hiking trails connect several on site observation and information centers. A longer hiking trail (3 to 4 hours) leads west over a very scenic route to Maddox Cove.

For more information, you can write to the Area