This page highlights the "must see" places in the province , such as, scenic, historical, entertaining ,& unique areas.
Location and Information
Newfoundland and Labrador are located on the far north-eastern fringe of North America, closer to Europe than any other part of the continent. It is situated between the 46th and 61st parallels, with most of the island section of the province below the 50th parallel. The total land area of the province is 405,720 sq. km.; the island portion of the province, Newfoundland, covers 111,390 sq. km. while the mainland section, Labrador, covers 294,330 sq. km
The province's proximity to the North Atlantic Ocean helps to give it a moderate climate. Two major currents, the Labrador Current from the Arctic and the Gulf Stream from the Gulf of Mexico flow past the province. The average winter temperatures on the island of Newfoundland range from 0 to -10 ,the interior to a -2 to -25. In Labrador the average winter temperature is between -10C -15. The average summer temperature on the island is approximately 14C in coastal areas, while inland the average temperature may go above 16 up to 30C.The average temperature in Labrador is between 8-10C along the coast, with the temperature in the interior approximately 3-5 degrees warmer.
According to 1996 statistics, the total population of the province is 551,792; 522,602 people reside on the island of Newfoundland and 29,190 people in Labrador. Slightly more than half of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians live in rural communities along the province's rugged coastline. The rest of the population lives in the larger city and towns. The largest city is the capital, St. John's, with a population of 101,936 and a metro-area population of approximately 177,000.
The ethnic background of the people is predominantly British, particularly the south-west of England and the south-east of Ireland. English is the mother tongue of 98.6 percent of the people. However the province has a French presence, especially on the island's west coast, that accounts for 0.4 percent of the population. In addition to its European ancestry, the province is home to three native groups: the Innu, Inuit, and Micmac. The first two groups live in Labrador and the Micmac reside on the west-coast of the island. The native languages and other non-official languages account for the remaining 1 percent of the languages spoken in the province.
On March 31, 1949, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador voted to join Canada and became the country's youngest and most easterly province
East Coast Trail
Today, more than 200 km of the series of trails are hiker ready, including a spectacular 50-metre suspension bridge at La Manche. Adventurers can take easy, moderate or strenuous portions of the trail, all of which are accessible by small roads leading to the sea. The wilderness trail in most cases follows the breathtaking cliff- side paths used for centuries by berry pickers, soldiers watching for enemy ships during wars, and local people travelling between the coastal communities. The path threads through ecological reserves and past bird sanctuaries, so sightings of puffins, whales and moose are both astounding and frequent. In addition, the warmth of the Newfoundland people who live in the picturesque fishing villages and historic communities along the way make for an unforgettable experience.
Degree of difficulty
Easy: For those who feel comfortable walking 2 to 4 hours a day on mainly level terrain. About 3 to 7 miles of walking a day. Leisurely paced with ample time to enjoy the countryside.
Moderate: For those who feel comfortable walking or hiking 2 to 5 hours a day. Walking trails can include smooth and/or uneven footpaths with some ascents up to 400 feet. About 4 to 10 miles of walking a day.
Challenging: For more experienced hikers who feel comfortable hiking 3 to 6 hours a day. Trails may have an uneven terrain with some steeper ascents from 1000 to 2400 feet. About 5 to 11 miles of hiking a day. You need to be in good condition to fully enjoy the challenges of this classification.
West Coast Trail
This adventure features the stunning beauty and unique geological features of Gros Morne National Park, named a UNESCO World heritage site.
You will hike the mountains and coastlines for unforgettable views and take a breathtaking boat ride up a fjord with walls 2,000 feet high. You will view the barren moonscape of the Tablelands plateau and explore sites where Palaeo-Eskimo cultures once lived. Woodland caribou and moose are often found here.
You will also travel up the Northern Peninsula to explore the 1000 year old Viking settlement at L'Anse-aux-Meadows, the first cultural UNESCO World Heritage site and the only authenticated Norse settlement in North America.
This adventure may challenge every idea you've ever had about the "discovery" of this continent.
Your meals and lodgings will be homey and comfortable. We will hike from 2 to 11 (sometimes challenging) miles per day. The adventure starts in Deer Lake, and winds up in St. Anthony or Deer Lake.
Imagine yourself in a cavern fifty feet below the earths surface. Ice candles clinging to the caves ceiling cast dagger like shadows that lunge and jump with each movement of your light. As you swing your head to get a better view, an icicle falls from the ceiling, exploding into a thousand crystals of light. Welcome to the Corner Brook Caves!
Sink holes and caves can be found all alone the West Coast of our province and most of them have neither been charted nor explored.
The Corner Brook Caves have it all: the easy cave to discover, the sinkhole, the difficult entrance to find, and the spectacular subterranean cave system. The Corner Brook Caves lie along the Corner Brook Stream.
Running to the Bay of Islands, Corner Brook Stream has cut deep into limestone exposing entrances to a variety of caves.
Some of the water from Corner Brook Stream is naturally diverted through Corner Brook Cave System. This natural diversion of water can create extremely hazardous conditions inside the caves. Spelunkers should check water levels before entering caves along its banks.
To experience the whole system requires at least two or three hours with an experienced guide. The trip involves exploring the upper cave, which is about 500 metres long, a sinkhole and the two branches of the larger cave system. Taking the unmarked trail through the woods accesses the large system. Upon entering, you will be rewarded with waterfalls; a cave above a cave, huge caverns and muddies crawls. The upper branch requires some fancy footwork to negotiate your way along the edge of some fairly deep water. This section terminates in a 3-metre rappel and then a cool wade to the exit that faces Corner Brook Stream.
Located on Route 90 you'll find one of our province's popular tourist destinations, Salmonier Nature Park. Here at Salmonier visitors have the unique opportunity of meeting some of Newfoundland and Labrador's wildlife face to face, to admire local plant life and view magnificent landscapes.
With environmental education at its heart, Salmonier's primary role is to help visitors to gain an understanding and appreciation for our province's wildlife and the natural community it inhabits. The park, which has been open to the public since 1978, has a layout that is based on a nature walk. Animals that have come to the park, usually injured and unreleasable, can be viewed in large natural enclosures scattered along the park trail. This allows visitors to see animals that are part of their natural surroundings. This approach takes visitors into the landscape and encourages them to feel they are part of these surroundings.
Along with the 40 hectares of the park containing nature trails and animal displays, comes an additional 1415 hectares that is undeveloped. This area, which abuts the Avalon Wilderness Reserve, includes mature boreal forest, barrens, peatlands and the headwaters of Salmonier River. Within the park, 84 species of birds, 15 species of mammals and over 170 species of vascular plants have been recorded - more than enough to fill a days visit.
Signal Hill rises above the entrance of St. John's Harbour and because of its location, was a natural site for signal stations and fortifications protecting the harbour and the city below.
As early as 1704, flag signals were flown from the summit of Signal Hill to inform St. John's of approaching ships, both friendly and hostile. In 1762, English and French forces fought the last North American battle of the Seven Years War on the hill and later the British military fortified the summit as citadel for the city. When the military withdrew in 1870, the colony turned the vacant barracks into hospitals.
It was also on this windswept summit in December, 1901, the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi set up his equipment, raised a wire aerial with a kite, and received the world's first transatlantic wireless signal.
The old military barracks that sheltered Marconi and his two assistants is now gone, but Marconi's story lives on through exhibits in Cabot Tower. The last signal station built on Signal Hill, the Cabot Tower, served as a Marconi station for almost three decades, including during the critical years of World War II.
As a part of Receiving The World celebrations this year, Cabot Tower will house a completely new and interactive display area to honour the 100th anniversary of the 1901 signal. This July and August, specially trained interpreters will bring alive the communications events that took place on Signal Hill. Special celebrations are set to occur on December 12, the actual centennial of Marconi's ground-breaking achievement.
Also of interest on Signal Hill is the Lookout Trail which has been constructed along the perimeter of the 19th century fortifications. The trail offers an interpretive walkway featuring display panels on the rich history of Signal Hill, St. John's and Newfoundland. As well during the summer the Noon Day Gun, situated near Cabot Tower, is fired daily at 12 noon in keeping with the summit's history and a tradition that dates back to the 1830s.
For more information on this National Historic Site, visit: http://www.parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/parks/newfoundland/ signal_hill/signal_hill_e.htm
Marble mountain is located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland in the Longe Range Mountains. It has a coastal climate and receives it`s fair share of precipitation. The 3-10 ft of snow that falls annually and the modestly cold winter temperatures make for some of the best skiing east of the Rocky Mountains.
Numerous runs , high speed lifts, and abundant accomidations , entertainment , and relativly decent rates make this a must to visit in winter or summer.
If you would like more info on any of these destinations or you would like to know about other attractions, leave me a note at my e-mail or guestbook and I will do my best to provide that info.
