Physical Geography
Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the Atlantic Provinces of Canada.The island of Newfoundland marks the northern extreme of the Appalachian region. Much of the land is rolling terrain, rising gradually westward to a maximum of almost 2,700 feet (820 m) above sea level in the Long Range Mountains. These low mountains extend the length of the western coast. The island's irregular coast is indented by numerous bays and inlets, some of the largest of which are Bonavista, Notre Dame, Trinity, and Placentia bays. There are numerous lakes and short rivers.
Labrador occupies part of the eastern edge of the Canadian Shield, or Laurentian Plateau, an elevated block of ancient crystalline rock covering most of eastern Canada. The glacier-scoured shield consists of rolling to hilly terrain and is marked by numerous rivers and lakes—particularly in the interior. The seaward edge of the shield is higher and more rugged than the interior. The Torngat Mountains, at Labrador's northern tip, rise slightly more than 5,300 feet (1,600 m) above sea level. Elsewhere along the coast there are fjords, high cliffs, and numerous bays, largest of which is Hamilton Inlet, including Lake Melville. Rivers are longer than those on the island and have great hydroelectric potential. One of the world's largest hydroelectric projects is located at Churchill Falls on the Churchill River in western Labrador.
The province's two sections have somewhat different climates. The island enjoys the moderating influence of surrounding waters. Average January temperatures range from 14° F. (-10° C.) in the north to 25° F. (-4° C.) in the south. July temperatures average between 50° and 60° F. (10° and 16° C.). Average annual precipitation is about 30 to 60 inches (760 to 1,520 mm), much of which occurs as snow.
Labrador has a harsh climate influenced by air masses from North America's cold interior. Temperatures often drop below 0° Forests, composed largely of black and white spruce, balsam fir, birch, and poplar, cover about a third of the island of Newfoundland and more than a fourth of Labrador. Nonforested areas, other than those cleared by humans, consist mainly of tundra, barren land, and bogs.
| Interesting facts about Newfoundland and Labrador | |||
| The first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was completed when the Great Eastern, the steamship laying the cable, landed at Heart's Content on July 27, 1866. The Great Eastern, the largest ship in the world at the time, laid the cable on the ocean floor from Valentia, Ireland to Newfoundland. | |||
| Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless message at St. John's on Dec. 12, 1901. The Morse Code signal he received was a letter s sent from Cornwall, England. The signal was picked up by an aerial attached to a kite. | |||
| Sir Humphrey Gilbert, an English explorer, claimed Newfoundland for England in August 1583. It became England's first possession in North America. However, Great Britain did not formally recognize Newfoundland as a colony until 1824. | |||
Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial tree is the black spruce.
Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial bird is the puffin.
Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial flower is the pitcher plant.
