Sandy Point, Newfoundland and Labrador facts for kids
Sandy Point, also sometimes called Flat Island, is a special island on the west coast of Newfoundland. It used to be connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land, like a bridge. But over time, strong ocean storms have worn away this land bridge. Now, Sandy Point is slowly becoming a "hidden island."
It was called a "hidden island" because it was very hard for ships coming from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to see it. This made it a good spot for ships to anchor and stay safe from strong winds.
Sandy Point used to be a small community where people lived. However, because of changes in how people lived and worked, it became easier for everyone to move to nearby towns like St. George's. A new railway connection also brought goods that were hard to get on the island.
The land that used to connect Sandy Point to the mainland starts from Flat Bay West in St. George's Bay. This land bridge stretches about 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles) towards Stephenville Crossing. Part of it is a quarter-kilometer (about 0.15 miles) area that is covered by water during high tide. It's very important to be careful when crossing this part because strong currents can appear quickly when the tides change.
History of Sandy Point
Sandy Point has a long and interesting history. People believe that Dorset people, and later the Beothuk and Mi'kmaq nations, lived here for a very long time. The area was a busy center for fishing in St. George’s Bay. It was also an important port and supply stop for much of Newfoundland's west coast.
The community of Sandy Point was once divided into two main parts. The western side, where Catholic families lived, was known as "up along." The eastern side, where Anglican families lived, was called "down along."
Over many years, Sandy Point became home to people from different backgrounds. This included Mi'kmaq, English, Jersey, and French residents. The community also became known for a rare health condition that was sometimes called "Sandy Point Syndrome."
Sandy Point was an "outport" community, which means it was a small, isolated coastal settlement. After Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, the government started a program to help people move from these small communities to larger towns.
For Sandy Point, the government offered money to residents if they moved to nearby St. George's. This town was on the main railway line, making it cheaper and easier for the government to provide services to more people in one place.
Sandy Point, which had been a very important seaport, slowly became smaller. By the 1970s, the last two residents had to leave the community.
Today, the island is completely empty of people. Different levels of government are working to make Sandy Point a historical site and a special area to protect nature.
Wildlife and Nature
Sandy Point is a unique place for many migratory birds that visit during the summer. These birds include piping plovers. The Sandy Point area is home to a large number of these plovers, making up between 15% and 30% of all plovers in Newfoundland.
The island has many different types of habitats. You can find sandy areas that are covered by tides, beaches, sand dunes, and salt marshes. There are also meadows, freshwater ponds, and some forested areas. This mix of environments makes Sandy Point a very special landscape in the province.
Sandy Point also has one of the largest and most northern areas of a plant called Spartina salt marsh in eastern North America. This is quite unusual.
It is thought that Sandy Point might be the most northern barrier island in Eastern Canada, though this is still being confirmed. The island has some plants and animals that are not commonly found in other parts of Eastern Canada. The inner bay of Sandy Point also has areas of eelgrass beds. These beds are important "nurseries" where many fish species can grow. There is also a deep trench behind the island that might be important for other fish and marine mammals.
