St. Paul Island is formed of granite and is extremely rugged with its shores being completely encircled by rockface cliffs. It is split by a narrow channel that fills with sea water. There are no land animals on the island, although it is inhabited by numerous seabirds. Its ecosystem is considered fragile and due to the danger posed by visiting the island, visits must be cleared with the Canadian Coast Guard (the island’s owner) beforehand.
The island is nicknamed the “Graveyard of the Gulf” (of St. Lawrence) as it is fog-bound throughout much of the navigation season and posed a significant hazard during the age of sail. Although it may have seen use by the Mi’kmaq Nation, it is believed to have been discovered by John Cabot.