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Prince Edward Island Tourism Region : North Cape Coastal Drive
Description From Owner:
- The most northerly extremity of the Island on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Hwy. 12. The Mi'kmaq called it Setunook, 'where the water flows back,' and Sipiaosgigeneg, 'stretched rocks.'
- When Jacques Cartier approached the point he saw a man flee away and called the place Cap dez Sauvaiges, Cape of the Savages' (archaic spelling. Modern French word for savages is sauvages).
- By 1744 the name had changed to Pointe du Nord, 'North Point. By 1966 Cape North was approved as the proper name. North Cape is the site of the Atlantic Wind Test Site, a wind-testing laboratory and was chosen for the continuous high winds here.
- North Cape lighthouse warns shipping of a dangerous reef where the waters of Northumberland Strait meet the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Wind Energy Interpretive Centre is at the N end of Route 12.
- Here visitors watch the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence meet with those of Northumberland Strait over the longest natural rock reef in North America, also a favourite gathering place for seals.
- There is the Black Marsh Nature Trail, giant wind turbine windmills, the Wind and Reef Restaurant and a gift shop of Island crafts.
- With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
Address of this page: http://pei.ruralroutes.com/NorthCapePEI