The first sun's rays, before reaching the rest of North America, give their heat to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada). Here the light is already touching the earth, while the rest of the continent remains in the dark, albeit only for a few moments. And when the province awakens, the same thing happens with its historical part: colorful buildings, standing on steep hills and rugged coastlines, with the secrets of early life, which has been hidden under the sea for centuries and even millennia.
The place where the earth was the sea
The two main components of the province - the island of Newfoundland and Labrador - should be considered as separate physical and geographical areas. The island, almost triangular in shape, with an area of 108,860 km 2 , is part of the Appalachian mountain system of North America. In it, the terrain stretches from the southwest to the northeast and is characterized by continental drift, volcanic impact, deformation of the earth's crust, ice erosion and sediment.
These forces created a very complex geological structure, with ancient rocks in the east, new Appalachian rocks in the west and the bottom of the ancient ocean sandwiched between them. The mountains are replaced by a plateau, which gradually descends to the north-east coast with its many capes, islands and bays. The plateau is undulating and dotted with thousands of lakes and ponds, numerous streams and rivers. The coast itself is marked by bays and fjords, there are many coastal islands.
Labrador, covering an area of 294,330 km 2 , is the geological part of the Canadian Shield, which includes some of the oldest rocks in the world. Although most of the rocks are igneous and metamorphic formations of Precambrian age (i.e., older than 540 million years), softer sedimentary deposits and some of the most extensive iron ore deposits in North America are found in the west.
Bit of history
The Vikings, Sea Indians, and Paleo-Eskimos, as well as the British, French, and Irish, claimed that Newfoundland and Labrador were at some point their hunting ground or home. Today, the provincial capital, St. John's, is considered the oldest English settlement in North America. Its history spans about five hundred years. The city is small and is located on the island of Newfoundland, separated from most of the province. However, his lifestyle is very different from the calm and peaceful solitude that exists in the rest of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Start your day before daylight at the lighthouse on Cape Spear, the easternmost point on the whole continent. Here you will be the first to see the sun peering over the horizon. The lighthouse is the oldest in Newfoundland and Labrador. It has existed for almost two centuries and preserves not only marine, but also family history.
For about 150 years, generations of the Cantwells have kept the light on and their doors remain open during visiting hours, inviting you to go inside and see how the guardians of the lighthouses of the 19th century lived. While in a historic place, wander around the citadel of the Second World War and the underpasses, the remains of the coastal defense battery of Fort Cape Spear.
Hiking & Walking
In Newfoundland and Labrador, you will find 29,000 kilometers of pristine coastline dotted with beaches and about 300 hiking trails, including historic trails between abandoned fishing communities. Along the way, you can see sea birds, whales and icebergs.
There is another interesting place to visit, however, this ecological reserve can be accessed only with a guided tour - Cape Mistaken Point (Mistaken Point). In 2016, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
More than four miles of jagged, narrow coastal cliffs make up this cape, where fabulously preserved fossils are covered with high hanging ledges. Once it was all part of the seabed. In America and North Africa, continental plates never shifted. Here you can admire multicellular fossils, the length of which ranges from a few centimeters to one and a half meters. They are the oldest found anywhere on the globe.
Interesting facts about the province
The unique culture of Newfoundland and Labrador is a fusion of English, Irish, French and indigenous heritage.
The history of this province is rich in legends. She also has her own characters:
- The floral emblem of Newfoundland and Labrador is Sarrazenia Magenta. This amazing plant is fed by insects that fall into the trap and drown in a pool of water at the base of the tubular leaves. More than a hundred years ago, Queen Victoria chose a flower for engraving on the recently minted Newfoundland penny. In 1954, the Cabinet declared this unusual and interesting plant the official flower of the province.
- The mineral symbol is labradorite. One of the most beautiful and popular of semiprecious stones, found in many places on the coast. Labradorite was declared a mineral emblem in 1975. It is one of the 20 semiprecious stones found in the province.
By the way, the bird of Newfoundland and Labrador is the Atlantic puffin (fratercula arctica). It is also known as the sea parrot or Baccalieu bird. About 95% of all North America puffins breed in colonies around the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.