Pure nature experience with wide landscapes, high peaks and a coastline of around 17,000 kilometers can be found in the Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador. The impressive landscape makes it possible to see moose grazing on open marshes or, for example, whales that swim in various sea bays. Occasionally you can also see icebergs drifting off the coast.
The historic cities of the region are: the mining town of Labrador City, the parish of Nain and the capital St. John’s as well as the cities of Trinity, Gander and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which is also the largest city in the wilderness of central Labrador. There are also two national parks in the region, the Gros Morne National Park, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the Terra Nova National Park, where you can also watch whales. The southwest coast is undoubtedly one of the natural beauties. From here you can climb the 55-meter-high Barchois waterfalls, which are located near Rose Blanch and can be reached through a footpath made of wooden planks.
Newfoundland and Labrador – Key Data
Area: 405,212 sq km, rank 10 of the provinces of Canada (land Area: 373,872 sq km, water Area: 31,340 sq km)
Share of water surface: 7.7%
Population: 508,726 residents, ranked 9th of the provinces of Canada (2009, estimate)
Population density: 1.3 residents per square kilometer
Member of the Confederation: March 31, 1949 (10th Province of Canada)
Capital and Largest city: St. John’s (100,646 residents, 2006,Metropolitan area 184,410 residents, 2006)
Highest point: 1,642 m, Mount Caubvick
Lowest point: 0 m, Atlantic Ocean
Lieutenant Governor: John Crosby
Prime Minister: Danny Williams
Local time: Newfoundland: CET -4:30 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET -3: 30h.
The time difference to Central Europe in Newfoundland is -4:30 h in both winter and summer.
Labrador: CET -5 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET -4 h.
The time difference to Central Europe in Newfoundland is -5 hours in both winter and summer.
Postal abbreviation: NL
Newfoundland and Labrador – Map and Geography
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador, which was only called Newfoundland until 2001, is an Atlantic province of Canada and lies in the east of the country. The province is bordered by Québec to the west and south and the Atlantic ocean. The total area of the province is 405,212 square kilometers. St. John’s is the capital and the largest city in the province.
The province of Newfoundland and Labrador consists on the one hand of the island of Newfoundland, which is the southern part of the province. At 108,860 square kilometers, Newfoundland is the tenth largest island on earth and, according to Winston Churchill, is “like a cork on the bottle neck of the St. Lawrence River” off the northeast coast of Canada. Newfoundland also includes many small offshore islands such as Bell Island and Twillingate Islands. The Labrador located on the mainlandis about twice the size of Newfoundland and has a north-south extension of 1,046 kilometers, while that from east to west is 724 kilometers.
While the Labrador Peninsula represents the eastern edge of the so-called Canadian Shield, Newfoundland can be seen as the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Both natural spaces were repeatedly formed in the course of different ice ages, so that today’s landscape with moors, lakes and rivers has formed in the interior of the country, while the 17,000 km long coast is characterized by steep headlands, offshore islands and fjord-like bays.
Located in the Long Range Mountains on the west coast, Lewis Hill is the highest mountain on Newfoundland at 814 meters. Labrador has the highest elevation with the 1,642 meter high Mount Caubvick in the Torngat Mountains.
Newfoundland and Labrador Landmarks
Newfoundland and Labrador have some interesting things to offer their visitors.
The Cathedral of Saint Johnthe Baptist, built in 1847, is worth seeing. The cathedral can be found in the capital of Newfoundland, St. John.
Near St. Lunaire-Griguet is the Lamse ausc Meadous National Historic Site. She is the oldest known European Settlement in the new world.
Within the exhibition you can find out a lot about the way of life of the Vikings. The settlement has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978.
The easternmost national park in Canada is the Terra Nova National Park. It was only officially declared a national park in 1957. The park is particularly attractive because of its mixture of land and sea. There are numerous hiking trails in the park for long excursions.
The Gros Morne National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to its mountain landscape, it is particularly popular with hiking tourists and campers like to come here, as the par is right near the sea.
