Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is Canada’s easternmost and youngest province.. She adopted the current borders in 2001. The province includes the eastern part of the Labrador Peninsula, the island of Newfoundland, located 15 km from the Labrador Peninsula, and more than 7,000 small islands. The island of Newfoundland is separated from the Labrador Peninsula by the narrow Belle Isle Strait, and from the province of Nova Scotia by the Cabot Strait. Its area is 108860 sq. km (about 1/4 of the province). The island of Newfoundland is a continuation of the Appalachian Mountains, in its western part the Long Range Mountains stretch. Within this mountain system is the highest point of the island – Mount Lewis Hill (814 m). A significant part of Newfoundland is covered with taiga forests dominated by fir and spruce. The western part of the Labrador Peninsula is occupied by the Torngat Mountains, where the highest point of the province is located – Mount Serk (1676 m). Plains extend in the southeastern part of the peninsula. Most of the peninsula is occupied by tundra and forest tundra. The largest river in the province is the river Churchill – flows through the Labrador Peninsula. Today, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is considered one of the best places in the world to observe large marine life and drifting icebergs. Every year between May and September, about 22 species of whales come to coastal waters. Most often you can see humpback whales, minke whales, fin whales and sperm whales. Drifting icebergs can be observed from any point of the northern or eastern coast of the province, because along them in the ocean lies the famous “Iceberg Alley”, along which icebergs pass along with the cold Labrador Current from Greenland to the warmer waters of the Atlantic, where they melt. It is believed that the first Europeans who came to the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador were the Vikings, it happened in the 10th century AD.

According to Plus Size Tips, the provincial capital is St. John ‘s. It is located on the southeast coast of Newfoundland on the Avalon Peninsula. It is the oldest and easternmost city in North America. The first settlement on the territory of the modern city was founded by the British in the early 16th century. One of the streets of the city – Water Street – is considered the oldest city street in North America. Be sure to walk along the city harbor, along which there are old buildings built in the Victorian style, as well as numerous shops and restaurants. At the northern end of the harbor rises Signal Hill, which offers great views of the city and its environs. The cultural center of St. John’s, and indeed of the province as a whole, is the Rooms building.built in 2005. The Provincial Museum, the Provincial Art Gallery and the archives are located here. Opposite the Rums building stands the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. George Street is known for its bars and discos; here life is in full swing even at night. From the south, the city’s harbor is bounded by Cape Spire, which is called “the far east of the Western world.” And in fact, it is the easternmost point of North America. In addition, the cape is considered the windiest place on the mainland.

From St. John ‘s, the East Coast Hiking Trail heads south along the coast. Traveling along it, you can see coastal landscapes, many birds, watch marine animals and visit ancient fishing villages. Also on this route is the city of Ferryland, where in 1621 George Calvert, better known as Lord Baltimore, founded the Avalon colony. The city is the center of Irish culture in the province. Remains of buildings from the 17th century have been preserved here. From St. John’s it is also possible to travel north along the coast to Conception Bay. The city of Cupids is located on the shores of the bay , where in 1610 the first English colonial settlement on the island of Newfoundland was founded. The city has one of the oldest churches in the province. City of Brigus, located on the shores of Conception Bay, is known for the annual summer blueberry festival and excellent blueberry pies, which are served in any restaurant in the city. On the northwest coast of the Avalon Peninsula, about 200 km southwest of St. John’s, is the city of Placentia. On the site of this city in the 17th century, the first French settlement on the island of Newfoundland was founded. From Placentia, you can go to the reserve Cape St. Mary, which is located to the south. It is one of the most accessible bird sanctuaries in the province. Thousands of gulls, auks, murres, kittiwakes, northern gannets and cormorants, as well as eiders, eagles and ospreys live here. The best time to go here is during the summer. For bird watching, walking tours are mainly organized.

North of the Avalon Peninsula on the east coast of Newfoundland is the city of Bonavista.. The cape on which the city stands was the first place that the Italian navigator Giovanni Caboto saw when sailing to the island of Newfoundland in 1497. According to legend, he exclaimed: “Oh, Bueno Vista!”, which means “what a beautiful place!”. Hence the name of the city. In honor of the discovery of the island of Giovanni Caboto, a monument was erected in the city harbor in the form of a ship (made in full size), on which the traveler sailed, and a sculpture of Caboto was erected next to him. Just to the north of the city, on Cape Bonavista, there is a lighthouse with breathtaking views of the ocean. The lighthouse began operation in 1843 and helped ships traveling to Labrador Island. Currently, the lighthouse houses an exposition that recreates the atmosphere of previous years.

Southwest of Bonavista on the ocean isTerra Nova National Park. The park covers an area of 400 sq. km and is the easternmost national park in Canada. Both coastal communities and forests are protected here. Twillingate is located northwest of Terra Nova National Park.- one of the best places in the country for whale watching and drifting icebergs. In coastal waters you can see whales, dolphins and harp seals. The best way to see the area is to climb the Long Point Lighthouse, which overlooks Notre Dame Bay. Off the coast of Notre Dame Bay are the islands of Change and Fogo, which are also great for whale and iceberg watching. They can be reached by boat or ferry. Fogo Island is the second largest island in the province. In the main town of the island, Tilting, there are several museums where you can learn about the culture of the region and the history of fishing. 60 km east of Fogo Island on Funk Island is a bird sanctuary, home to the largest colony of terns in the western North Atlantic.

From the southern coast of the island of Newfoundland, a vast oceanic shoal extends – the Great Newfoundland Bank, which is one of the richest fishing areas in the oceans. In this part of the province, the Burin Peninsula is of interest. At the southern tip of the peninsula is the city of Fortune, from where you can go to the nearby group of islands Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It is the only territory in North America left within France from the former colony of New France. On the islands you can taste real French wine or watch birds. Cape Anguille

is the westernmost point of Newfoundland.on which the beacon is installed. Not far from here, the Coduroy Valley extends along the Grand Coduroy River. The valley is surrounded by the Long Range Mountains and is occupied by forests and grasslands. At the mouth of the Grande Coduroy River, there is a 925-hectare nature reserve with swampy lowlands. These areas are home to a variety of bird species. Northeast of the Codroy Valley, along the banks of the Humber River, the picturesque Humber Valley, surrounded by the Long Range mountains, stretches for 70 km. In summer, it is best to travel to these places by canoe, in winter, by snowmobile or skis. The Humber River is one of the best places in the world to fish for Atlantic salmon. Fishing with “all conditions” is possible at the Humber Valley resort. The valley is also home to the ski resort of Marbell Mountain.. The Humber Valley is adjacent to the Gross Morne National Park. This is the second largest national park in eastern Canada, it covers an area of 1805 square meters. km. The park includes the Long Range Mountains, forests, swamps, lowlands and coastal areas with cliffs and sandy beaches. Western Brook Gorge, located in the Long Range Mountains, is especially popular with tourists. The heights of the walls of the gorge reach 600 m. About 240 species of birds live in the park. You can watch birds and other animals while traveling along more than 100 km of hiking trails. In winter, the park offers opportunities for snowmobiling and ice climbing.

From Gross Morne National Park begins the Great Northern Peninsula. The northern part of the peninsula is washed by the Belle Isle Strait, which separates the island of Newfoundland and the Labrador Peninsula. At the northern end of the peninsula is the historical site of L’Anse aux Meadows, where an 11th-century Viking settlement was excavated by archaeologists in 1968. It is located 50 km from St. Anthony Airport. It was the first settlement of the Vikings who arrived from Greenland to North America under the leadership of Leif Eriksson, son of Eric the Red. These places are mentioned in numerous sagas. During the excavations, 8 dugouts, a forge and many objects over 1000 years old were discovered. South of L’Anse aux Meadows is the reconstructed Viking trading port of Norsted, with a model of the Snorri ship that brought the Vikings to the area.

On the opposite bank of Belle Isle Sound on the south coast of the Labrador Peninsula is the Red Bay Historic Site. The waters surrounding Red Bay were a prime spot for whaling in the 16th century. Here on the coast there were numerous Basque fishing settlements, the remains of which are now protected. Red Bay tells about the history of the settlement of the region by Europeans. In the local information center, you can see the eight-meter boat “chalupa”, which went out to sea to catch whales, and a collection of whale bones of various sizes. A little north off the coast on Battle Island is another historical site – Battle Harbor.. A fishing village from the 18th and 20th centuries has been reconstructed here. In the village you can see wooden houses, shops, churches and various fishermen’s buildings and get acquainted with the life of a small coastal settlement of those times. In general, this part of the Labrador Peninsula is more suitable for those who love nature. There are mountains, lakes and rivers and unlimited opportunities for hiking, hunting and fishing. Salmon, Arctic grayling, American char, pike and whitefish are found in the rivers of the peninsula. The main game species are moose, caribou, bears, wolves, coyotes, hares, ducks and geese. In winter, in this part of the Labrador Peninsula, you can ride dog sleds, snowmobiles, cross-country skiing, watch the northern lights or go ice fishing. In the northern part of the province isTorngat Mountains National Park. The park is located on the territory of the Northern mountainous region of the Labrador Peninsula and covers an area of 9700 square meters. km. The park contains the highest point of the province – Mount Serk (1676 m), which, like many other peaks of this part of the peninsula, is covered with a glacier. Along the coast of the park you can see polar bears that come here to hunt, and in the interior of the park – herds of caribou.

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada