Newfoundland (island)

Newfoundland is a large island within the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It lies off the eastern coast of the North American mainland, to the south of Labrador. The island covers 29% of the province's land area but is home to over 90% of its population, with many people living on the small southeastern Avalon Peninsula.

Newfoundland is separated from the Labrador Peninsula by the Strait of Belle Isle and from Cape Breton Island by the Cabot Strait. It blocks the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River, creating the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the world's largest estuary. The island's nearest neighbor is the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, located just 19 kilometers away.

With an area of 108,860 square kilometers, Newfoundland is the world's 16th-largest island, Canada's fourth-largest island, and the largest Canadian island outside the North. The provincial capital, St. John's, is located on the southeastern coast, and Cape Spear is the easternmost point of North America, excluding Greenland. Many people consider nearby islands such as New World, Twillingate, Fogo, and Bell Island to be part of Newfoundland as well.

History

Main article: History of Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland has been home to indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The first known groups were the Dorset culture and later the Beothuk people.

The island was explored by Norse settlers around the year 1000, who built a temporary base at L'Anse aux Meadows. This is the only confirmed evidence of Europeans in North America before later explorations.

In 1497, the explorer John Cabot, working for England, landed on Newfoundland. Later, European fishermen from Portugal, Spain, France, and England began visiting the island's rich fishing grounds. In 1583, Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for England, making it England's first overseas colony.

Over time, settlers from England, France, Ireland, and Scotland arrived, creating a unique society focused on fishing and adapted to the island's rugged coastline.

Flags of Newfoundland

See also: Newfoundland Tricolour

The first flag to represent Newfoundland was a green fir tree on pink in the early 1800s. In 1870, the Newfoundland Blue Ensign became the official flag for government ships. By 1904, this changed to include the Great Seal of Newfoundland. These flags were used until 1965.

In 1907, King Edward VII declared Newfoundland independent within the British Empire, and the Red Ensign became the civil flag. In 1931, the Union Jack was adopted as the national flag. When Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, the Union Jack stayed as the flag until 1980, when a new provincial flag replaced it.

Main article: Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Points of interest

Newfoundland has a rich history as one of the first places in the New World where Europeans settled. St. John's is the oldest city in Canada and the oldest continuously settled location in English-speaking North America. The area around St. John's includes towns like Mount Pearl, Conception Bay South, and Paradise. The west coast features Corner Brook on the Bay of Islands.

The island has many beautiful natural areas, such as Gros Morne National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning landscapes. Terra Nova National Park offers rugged coastlines and historic sites. L'Anse aux Meadows is an important archaeological site, believed to be where Viking explorer Leif Ericson landed around the year 1003. The island also offers many activities for visitors, including hiking trails like the East Coast Trail and the chance to explore historic towns and universities such as Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Communities

Newfoundland has many towns and cities. The biggest one is St. John's, with over 100,000 people. Other large places include Conception Bay South, Mount Pearl, and Paradise. These towns are where most people on the island live, especially around the southeastern part called the Avalon Peninsula.

Here are the largest municipalities on Newfoundland based on 2016 population counts:

1. St. John's (108,860)
2. Conception Bay South (26,199)
3. Mount Pearl (23,120)
4. Paradise (21,389)
5. Corner Brook (19,806)
6. Grand Falls-Windsor (14,171)
7. Gander (11,688)
8. Portugal Cove-St. Philip's (8,147)
9. Torbay (7,899)
10. Stephenville (6,623)
11. Clarenville (6,291)
12. Bay Roberts (6,012)
13. Marystown (5,316)
14. Deer Lake (5,249)

Geography

Main article: Geography of Newfoundland and Labrador

Main article: Geography of Newfoundland and Labrador § Geology

Newfoundland is a large, roughly triangular island with each side about 500 kilometers long. It covers an area of 108,860 square kilometers, and when you include its small nearby islands, the total area is 111,390 square kilometers. The island stretches between latitudes 46°36'N and 51°38'N.

The island has a subarctic or humid continental climate, with some southeastern areas having a subpolar oceanic climate due to maritime influence. Newfoundland is also known for its many bays and islands, including Baccalieu Island, Barasway Bay, Barred Bay, and many others. The beginning of the Cambrian Period in geological time is named after Newfoundland, known as Terre Neuve in French.

Fauna and flora

Main article: Geography of Newfoundland and Labrador § Biosphere

See also: List of mammals of Newfoundland

Newfoundland is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. The island's forests are filled with trees like spruce and fir, and its shores host many sea birds. Mammals such as moose, deer, and various small rodents also live on the island, contributing to its rich and diverse natural environment.

Newfoundlanders

Main category: People from Newfoundland (island)

See also: Category:Pre-Confederation Newfoundland and Labrador people

Newfoundland is home to many people who are known as Newfoundlanders. They live mainly on the southeastern part of the island called the Avalon Peninsula, where most of the population of the whole province of Newfoundland and Labrador resides. Even though Newfoundland covers only about 29% of the land area, it holds over 90% of the province's people.

Railways

Currently, the Newfoundland Railway is closed.