
Tweeting #Newfoundland trivia in bite-sized pieces. Check out https://xitter.cf/t.co/DxKXTO9bHX for bigger bites. AKA @productofnfld
Gander, NL
Joined June 2009
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Atlantic puffins mate for life. Mostly. They have about a 7% โdivorceโ rate.
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Happy Valentineโs Day!!
77 years ago today -- On January 2nd, 1947, NL adopted right-hand drive. Prior to 1947 traffic drove to the left, as they still do in the UK. #newfoundland #otd
Read more: buff.ly/3S271By
On Dec 31, 1918 Cabot Tower was significantly damaged by an explosion. It was during the preparation of the noon-day gun. The signalman died. You can read more about it here:
buff.ly/48hJx1d
Let there be ELECTRIC light!
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137 years ago a system of electric street lamps went into operation in St. Johnโs.
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Shortly after a local newspaper complained at spending $200 apiece for 25 lamps that offered โuncertain, flickering light --burning one hour, black the next.โ
On Sept 15, 1762, Lt. Col. William Amherst
and his troops waged the Battle of Signal Hill, taking St. Johnโs from the French who had seized it earlier that year. It was the last major battle of the Seven Years War fought in North America. Fort Amherst is named for him.
More on that on the blog: productofnewfoundland.ca/artโฆ
The National War Memorial in St. Johnโs, NL was unveiled on July 1st, 1924 โ 99 years ago, today.
On June 4, 1615, North Americaโs first known Court of Admiralty (or Maritime Court) sat in Trinity, NL. It was presided over by Sir Richard Whitbourne.
On May 20, 1932, Amelia Earhart took off from Harbour Grace, NL and became the first woman to fly nonstop and alone across the Atlantic.
Video from the Conception Bay Museum:
youtu.be/Wno39E7pwAg
There were more than 100 000 sheep in pre-confederation Newfoundland by 2022 there were about 3500 on NL farms.
On May 17, 1857 an arch featuring a statue of St. John the Baptist was erected at the entrance of the Basilica in St. Johnโs. 50 years later it was moved (to allow for the widening of Military Road) and expanded to include the three archways visible today.
On May 15, 1919 US blimp C-5 stopped in St. Johnโs, NL in an attempt to make a transatlantic voyage. It broke free of it mooring, injured onlookers, drifted out to sea and was lost forever.
Read the story: buff.ly/3Mrz5LW
There are over 80km of trails through Terra Nova
National Park. Thatโs nearly double the length of the Trans Canada Highway through the park.
The pitcher plant was made the floral emblem of NL in 1954 but, even before that, it had appeared on the NL penny.
















