The Narrows, is the only passage from the Atlantic Ocean to St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland, 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. The Narrows has served an important defense of the city of St. John’s from early pirates and settlers in 1655 to

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. In 1655 vice admiral Christopher Martin erected a

fort A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

on the south side to prevent privateers and enemy vessels from entering the port.''Volume four, p. 12,

Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador ''Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador'' is an Encyclopedia commissioned by Joey Smallwood to capture the people, places, events and history of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Smallwood's view on the purpose of the encyclopedia wa ...

'', . In the mid 17th century, fortifications, known as Signal Hill, were built on a north-side hill, affording a view of the Narrows and the harbor. In 1763

Fort Amherst Fort Amherst, in Medway, South East England, was constructed in 1756 at the southern end of the Brompton lines of defence to protect the southeastern approaches to Chatham Dockyard and the River Medway against a French invasion. Fort Amherst is ...

was built in the same area. In the late 18th century a defensive chain 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 submarines from entering the harbor. The Fort Amherst Lighthouse, now a heritage site, was erected at South Head, at the entrance to the Narrows to guide approaching vessels. 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

Fort Amherst, St. John's Fort Amherst is a neighbourhood in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located at , on the southern side of the Narrows, the entrance to St. John's harbour. Apart from some family dwellings, Fort Amherst consists of a man-made harbour, a ...

, which includes the historic lighthouse.

References

{{coord, 47, 33, 57, N, 52, 41, 03, W, display=title Landforms of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Straits of Newfoundland and Labrador