The city of St. John's covers a land area of 432 sq km (167 sq mi). The metropolitan area, which consists of the city of St. John's, the city of Mount Pearl, and 11 other municipalities, occupies 790 sq km (305 sq mi). St. John's developed on the northern and western sides of St. John's Harbour, which is 2 km (1.25 mi) long and 0.8 km (0.5 mi) wide and is entered through the Narrows. The Southside Hills, located south of the city, and Signal Hill, located to the east, have prevented the city from growing in those directions. As a result, the city has grown to the north, extending over a high ridge in the process. Many of the streets that lead down to the harbor's edge are thus extremely steep.
The harbor is St. John's most prominent feature. Its facilities were improved in a massive rebuilding effort that took place between 1959 and 1964. The city's downtown area, located on the harbor's northwest side, features rows of brightly painted wooden houses built in various architectural styles. Many are incorporated within and protected by the Heritage Conservation Area, which was established by the city in 1977 to preserve architecturally and historically valuable sites while maintaining the area for normal urban life. The wooden houses have been subject to frequent fires. Relatively serious fires occurred in 1816, 1817, 1819, and 1846, and the Great Fire of 1892 destroyed three-quarters of the city. As a result, buildings which predate the 20th century are extremely rare in St. John's.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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