Geography of Newfoundland and Labrador

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Newfoundland and Labrador
Map of Canada (geopolitical)
Country Canada
Geographic coordinates
 51°00′N 57°00′W / 51.000°N 57.000°W / 51.000; -57.000
Area
 - Total
 - Water 		Ranked 7th
405,720 km2
31,240 km2 (7.7%)
Coastline 17,542 km (10,900 mi)
Land borders Quebec
Nunavut (Killiniq Island)
Maritime Borders Nunavut
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Highest point Mount Caubvick, 1,652 m (5,420 ft)
Lowest point Atlantic Ocean, 0 m
Longest river Churchill River 856 km (532 mi)
Largest inland body of water Smallwood Reservoir 31,153 km2 (12,028 sq mi)
Climate:
Temperate to arctic
Terrain: mountains, subarctic, arctic
Natural resources iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, silver, fish, timber, petroleum, hydropower

Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province in Canada. The Strait of Belle Isle separates the province into two geographical regions, Labrador and the island of Newfoundland.[1] The province also includes over seven thousand small islands.[2]

Labrador is the easternmost part of the

tectonic plates have shaped much of the geology of Newfoundland. Gros Morne National Park has a reputation of being an outstanding example of tectonics at work,[3] and as such has been designated a World Heritage Site. The Long Range Mountains on Newfoundland's west coast are the northeasternmost extension of the Appalachian Mountains.[1]

The fauna of Labrador is typical of that of similar areas of North America while the island of Newfoundland has considerably fewer mammals and no native amphibians.[4]

The north–south extent of the province (46°36'N to 60°22'N), prevalent westerly winds, cold ocean currents and local factors such as mountains and coastline combine to create the various climates of the province.

polar tundra climate, southern Labrador is considered to be a subarctic climate while most of Newfoundland would be considered to be a cool summer subtype of a humid continental climate
.

The provincial capital is St. John's, located at the extreme eastern edge of the island, Newfoundland, on the Avalon Peninsula. About half of the province's economy is based on its abundant natural resources, notably petroleum, minerals, forestry and the fishery.[6]

Physical geography

Newfoundland is roughly triangular, with each side being approximately 500 kilometres (310 mi), and having an area of 108,860 square kilometres (42,030 sq mi).[2] Newfoundland and its associated small islands have a total area of 111,390 square kilometres (43,010 sq mi).[7] Newfoundland extends between latitudes 46°36'N and 51°38'N.[8][9] It lies at similar latitudes to Great Britain, and the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia.

Labrador is an irregular shape: the western part of its border with Quebec is the drainage divide for the Labrador Peninsula. Lands drained by rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean are part of Labrador, the rest belongs to Quebec. Labrador’s extreme northern tip, at 60°22'N, shares a short border with Nunavut on Killiniq Island. Labrador’s area (including associated small islands) is 294,330 square kilometres (113,640 sq mi).[7] Together, Newfoundland and Labrador make up 4.06% of Canada’s area.[10]

The island of Newfoundland is separated from Labrador by the Strait of Belle Isle, which is 125 kilometres (78 mi) long and from 60 to 15 kilometres (37.3 to 9.3 mi) wide. In addition to the island of Newfoundland, the province is made up of 12 larger islands with a total area of 2,505 square kilometres (967 sq mi) and 7,170 smaller islands with a total area of 3,598 square kilometres (1,389 sq mi).[2]

See also:
Islands of Newfoundland and Labrador and Bay de Verde Formation

Geology

A large part of the island of Newfoundland is an extension of the Appalachian system.[1] Major bays, peninsulas, river systems and mountain ranges are typically oriented southwest to northeast, parallel to the Appalachians.[11]

The eastern part of the island (the Avalon Peninsula and Burin Peninsula) is mostly folded sedimentary rocks with some intrusions of igneous rock and was part of southwestern Europe or Northern Africa about 250 million years ago.[1] The oldest rocks are Precambrian. Small remnants of Cambrian and Ordovician rocks occur along the coast. Bell Island in Conception Bay is a good example of gently sloping Ordovician sedimentary rock.[11] The plateau in the Avalon Peninsula averages 250 metres (820 ft) above sea level.[8]

The rest of the island is composed of a great variety of

Glaciers which helped shape these tolts left other evidence around Newfoundland. Large blocks of stone called glacial erratics have been left scattered across much of the landscape.[13] The long narrow lakes of the west coast, notably those in Gros Morne National Park resulted from glacial erosion. The lack of good soil on most parts of the island is a result of the scouring effect of glaciers during the most recent ice age.[14]
Newfoundland's nickname, "The Rock", is partially a result of the ice ages.

Western Brook Pond is a fjord within Gros Morne National Park
which resulted from glacial erosion.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of Newfoundland geology is a result of the constant movement of

upper mantle of the Earth can be seen.[15][17]

Another notable geology site is at

metazoan fossils in North America and the most ancient deep-water marine fossils in the world are found preserved in layers of volcanic ash.[18]

Labrador is the easternmost part of the

Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve was created in 2005 to preserve part of this area.[19]

Biosphere

The

Gray wolf. The Labrador duck, believed to have nested in Labrador, was one of the first North American bird species to be recorded as becoming extinct.[21]

See also: List of mammals of Newfoundland

Many rare herbaceous plants and insects occur on the island.[20] The west coast of the island supports over 200 plant species. Rare species such as Long’s braya (Braya longii) and Fernald’s braya (B. fernaldii), are endemic to Newfoundland.[22] Brayas are small perennial herbs of the family Brassicaceae. They are only found on a narrow strip of land extending approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) on the extreme western portion of the Great Northern Peninsula, a limestones barrens habitat. The braya population is low due to habitat loss from gravel quarrying. Researchers have only found three populations of Long's braya,[23] and 14 or 15 populations of Fernald's brayas.[24] Researchers have focused on how various types of disturbances affect the long-term viability of these populations. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, with many partners, is studying the rare plant flora of the island of Newfoundland and in 2002 announced a recovery plan for the braya species.[25]

Many plants and animals have been introduced to Newfoundland, either by chance or deliberately.

toads almost a century later.[28]

The marine waters around the province are considered boreal, or sub-Arctic, in nature.

minkes, sei whales, fin whales and humpbacks. Harp and hooded seals are usually found in the spring, giving birth to their young on coastal ice floes.[20]

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the dominant carnivore in the tundra

The tundra is a sub-Arctic zone with long, cold winters and short, warm summers.

American pipit.[32] The Labrador tundra is also permanent home to ptarmigan
.

Southern Labrador is mostly taiga. It is characterized by low winter temperatures, a longer growing season, and more precipitation than the tundra. Soils are typically lacking important nutrients such as

rough-legged hawks and peregrine falcons nest on steep cliffs.[32]

Climate

The province has been divided into seven climate types,

polar tundra climate, southern Labrador is considered to have a subarctic climate
.

Monthly average temperatures, rainfall and snowfall for four communities are shown in the attached graphs.

Wabush the interior of Labrador. The detailed information and information for 73 communities in the province is available from a government website.[33]
The data used in making the graphs is the average taken over thirty years. Error bars on the temperature graph indicate the range of daytime highs and night time lows. Snowfall is the total amount which fell during the month, not the amount accumulated on the ground. This distinction is particularly important for St. John's where a heavy snowfall can be followed by rain so that no snow remains on the ground.

Newfoundland and Labrador average monthly temperatures
Newfoundland and Labrador average monthly rainfall
Newfoundland and Labrador average monthly snowfall

Surface water temperatures on the Atlantic side reaches a summer average of 12 °C (54 °F) inshore and 9 °C (48 °F) offshore to winter lows of −1 °C (30 °F) inshore and 2 °C (36 °F) offshore. Sea temperatures on the west coast are warmer than Atlantic side by 1 to 3 °C (approximately 2 to 5 °F). The sea keeps winter temperatures slightly higher and summer temperatures a little lower on the coast than at places inland. The maritime climate produces more variable weather, ample precipitation in a variety of forms, greater humidity, lower visibility, more clouds, less sunshine, and higher winds than a continental climate.[34] Some of these effects can be seen in the graphs. Labrador's climate differs from that of the island not only because it is further north, but also because the interior does not see the moderating effects of the ocean.

Weather systems affecting Newfoundland usually originate from the west, over mainland Canada, or from the southwest, from the east coast of the United States.

sweeping over a large surface of ocean can build up very large waves. The frequency and severity of storms is greatest between November and March, although they may occur at any time of the year.[34]

One of these storms was the "Independence Hurricane", which struck eastern Newfoundland on September 9, 1775. About 4000 sailors, mostly from the British Isles, were reported to have been drowned.[34]

During a violent storm on February 15, 1982, the drilling rig Ocean Ranger capsized and sank on the Grand Banks, 300 kilometres (190 mi) east of St. John's.[35] The entire 84-man crew perished, making it the worst Canadian marine disaster in decades.

Newfoundland and Labrador has the strongest winds of any of the provinces, with most places having average annual wind speeds over 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph).[34]

Freezing rain is common in Newfoundland where it is known as "silver thaw".[34] Freezing drizzle or freezing rain occurs on average of 150 hours each winter, most commonly in March. One such storm struck St. John's on April 11, 1984, and lasted three days. Ice almost 15 centimetres (5.9 in) thick disrupted electrical power to 200,000 people on the Avalon Peninsula for days.[34]

Newfoundland receives less than 1600 hours of sunshine per year, much lower than the Canadian average of 1925 hours.[34] Summer months average 187 hours of sun while the December average is 60 hours.

Newfoundland is also known for its fog which occurs most often in the spring and early summer because of the contrast between sea and air temperatures.

Argentia
has 206 days of fog per year. Fog in Newfoundland is frequently accompanied by strong onshore winds; while usually winds disperse fog, here the fog is too widespread for this to occur.

Average daily maximum/minimum temperatures[36]
Location July January
°C °F °C °F
St. John's
 20/11 68/52 −1/−9 30/16
Gander 21/11 71/51 −3/−12 26/11
Corner Brook 22/13 71/55 −3/−10 28/15
Stephenville[37] 20/13 68/55 −2/−9 28/15
Happy Valley-Goose Bay 20/10 68/49 −13/−23 9/−9
Nain 15/5 59/41 −14/−23 7/−10

St. John's weather extremes

Of all the major Canadian cities, St. John's is the foggiest (124 days, next to

Halifax's 122), snowiest (359 centimetres (141 in), next to Quebec City's 343 centimetres (135 in)), wettest (1514 millimetres (59.6 in), next to Halifax's 1491 millimetres (58.7 in)), windiest (24.3 km/h (15.1 mph) average speed, next to Regina's 20.7 km/h (12.9 mph)), and cloudiest (1,497 hours of sunshine, next to Charlottetown's 1,818 hours).[34] St. John's has one of the mildest winters in Canada (third mildest city next to Victoria and Vancouver), yet has the most freezing rain days of any major Canadian city.[34]

Hydrography

Fresh water

Shallow

glaciers are responsible for the numerous lakes and ponds, and short, swift flowing rivers scattered across Newfoundland and Labrador. The area of freshwater in Newfoundland and Labrador is 31,340 square kilometres (12,100 sq mi), covering 7.7% of the total surface of area of the province and accounting for 3.5% of the freshwater area of Canada.[10]

See also: Category:Lakes of Newfoundland and Labrador and Category:Rivers of Newfoundland and Labrador

Ocean

The west coast of Newfoundland borders on the Gulf of St. Lawrence while all other coasts face the Atlantic Ocean. Labrador's coast borders the Labrador Sea, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. The Strait of Belle Isle connects the Gulf of St. Lawrence with the Labrador Sea and is the narrowest channel separating Newfoundland from mainland Canada. The Cabot Strait separates Newfoundland from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

The

oil fields
all located there.

Icebergs and pack ice

Approximately 90% of

glaciers on the Greenland coast. Once detached from the glaciers, icebergs are transported southward through the Davis Strait by the Labrador Current.[38]

Approximately 40,000 medium to large icebergs annually calve from Greenland glaciers, and depending on wind, and air and water temperature, between 400 and 800 of these go as far south as 48° north latitude (St. John's).[38] Icebergs are most commonly seen in the waters off Newfoundland in the spring and early summer. Despite their size, the icebergs of Newfoundland move an average of 17 kilometres (11 mi) a day.

oil platforms[39]
and the hazard is aggravated by dense fog in this area.

During the first half of each year the waters off Newfoundland may become covered with floes of sea ice or "pack ice".[34] While icebergs are composed of fresh water, pack ice is frozen sea water. The severity of ice varies considerably, depending on the strength and direction of the wind and air temperature. Most of the pack ice off Newfoundland's northern and eastern shores originates off Labrador. While some of the pack ice off the west coast also comes from the sea off Labrador via the Strait of Belle Isle, most of it originates in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Beginning in January the pack ice begins to advance south, borne by the Labrador Current until (usually) in April the rate of melting overtakes the rate of advance and the ice retreats northward. The leading edge of the pack ice is known as "The Front" and is important to the annual seal hunt off Newfoundland's north coast.[40]

Time zones

Newfoundland is located in a unique

Norman's Bay, which is on Newfoundland time.[9]

Natural resources

All currency is in Canadian dollars.

Exploitation of natural resources is a major part of the

paper mills
) accounted for the remainder.

Minerals and petroleum

Mines in Labrador, the

Buchans), started producing copper, zinc, silver and gold in 2007 and prospecting for new ore bodies continues.[41] Mining accounted for 3.5% of the provincial GDP in 2006.[6] The province produces 55% of Canada’s total iron ore.[42] Quarries producing dimension stone such as slate and granite, account for less than $10 million worth of material per year.[43]

Grand Banks was 110 million barrels (17,000,000 m3) which contributed 15% of the provinces GDP in 2006. Total production from the Hibernia field from 1997 to 2006 was 733 million barrels (116,500,000 m3) with an estimated value of $36 billion. Remaining reserves are estimated at almost 2 billion barrels (320,000,000 m3) as of December 31, 2006. Exploration for new reserves is ongoing.[6]

Fishing and aquaculture

The

clams, accounted for 195,000 tonnes (215,000 tons) with a value of $316 million in the same year. The value of products from the seal hunt was $55 million.[6]

mussels and Steelhead Trout worth over $50 million.[6]

Forestry

2008/2009 economic crisis the mill shut down.[44]
The value of newsprint exports varies greatly from year to year, depending on the global market price. Lumber is produced by numerous mills in Newfoundland.

Agriculture

Agriculture in Newfoundland in limited to areas south of

bakeapples are harvested commercially and used in jams and wine making.[45]

Human geography

Newfoundland and Labrador had a population of 505,469 (2005 estimate) and a

Corner Brook
.

See also:
List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador

Human inhabitation in Newfoundland and Labrador can be traced back over 9,000 years to the people of the Maritime Archaic Tradition.

Basque whalers (the remains of several whaling stations have been found at Red Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
) began exploration and exploitation of the area.

Early European (primarily from England, Ireland and France) settlement in Newfoundland was confined to the coast. The rich

Grand Falls in the early 20th century marked the beginning of the settlement of the interior of the island. Despite these developments the majority of the population is still found along the coast.[48]

Settlement of

Goose Bay
.

Beothuks
, became extinct in the early 19th century.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bell, Trevor; Liverman, David. "Landscape (of Newfoundland and Labrador)". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "Atlas of Canada: Sea islands". Natural Resources Canada (Government of Canada). Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Report on the State of Conservation of Gros Morne National Park". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 5 August 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d "Land Mammals". Salmonier Nature Park, Department of the Environment, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site: Climate". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Economic Research and Analysis 2007". Economics and Statistics Branch, Department of Finance, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Office of the Queens Printer. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  7. ^ a b "About Newfoundland and Labrador: Land Area". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  8. ^ a b c Bélanger, Claude. "Newfoundland Geography". Marianopolis College. Archived from the original on 12 April 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  9. ^ a b c d "Location and Climate". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  10. ^ a b "Atlas of Canada: Land and Freshwater Areas". Natural Resources Canada (Government of Canada). Archived from the original on 16 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  11. ^ a b c Summers, W.F. (12 June 2019). "Newfoundland and Labrador". The Canadian Encyclopedia (online ed.). Historica Canada.
  12. ^ "Tolts (rocky knobs) or inselbergs". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  13. ^ "Glacial features: Glacial erratics". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  14. ^ "Role of the Geological Survey (pdf)" (PDF). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  15. ^ a b "Gros Morne National Park: The Story in Stone". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 23 May 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  16. ^ Bell, Trevor; Liverman, David. "Geological landscape". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  17. ^ "Protected Areas and World Heritage". United Nations Environment Programme. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  18. ^ Waggoner, Ben; Smith, Dave. "Localities of the Vendian: Mistaken Point, Newfoundland". University of California Museum of Paleontology. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  19. ^ "Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Newfoundland and Labrador Biosphere". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  21. ^ "Labrador Duck: the Mystery Extinction". Cornell Lab of Ornithilogy. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  22. ^ "Species at Risk Public Registry". Government of Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  23. ^ "Species at risk: Long's braya". Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  24. ^ "Species at risk: Fernald's braya". Government of Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  25. ^ a b "National Recovery Plan for Long's Braya and Fernald's Braya". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador press release. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  26. JSTOR 3858594. Archived from the original
    on 24 February 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  27. ^ Blake, John. "Coyotes in Insular Newfoundland (pdf)" (PDF). Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  28. ^ Thomas, Llewellyn. "Amphibians at the Fluvarium (Toads and Frogs)". Pippy Park. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  29. ^ a b "Climate Characteristics". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  30. ^ Snow, David A. "Mammals of Newfoundland and Labrador". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Tourism, Culture, & Recreation. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  31. ^ "Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)". Texas Waterfowler. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  32. ^ a b Jones, Ian L. "Birds of Labrador". Virtual Museum of Labrador. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  33. ^ "Environment Canada Climate data for Newfoundland and Labrador". Environment Canada. Archived from the original on 21 March 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2007.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "The Climate of Newfoundland". Environment Canada. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  35. ^ "Marine Casualty Report for the Ocean Ranger (pdf)" (PDF). United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  36. ^ "National Climate Data and Information Archive". Environment Canada. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  37. ^ "Stephenville A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010.
    Environment Canada
    . July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  38. ^ a b c d Bruneau, Stephen E. "Icebergs of Newfoundland and Labrador FAQ". Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  39. ^ Peterson, Ingrid. "Forecasting of the Iceberg Population on the Grand Banks (pdf)" (PDF). Ocean Sciences Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  40. ^ "Seals and Sealing in Canada:FAQ". Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  41. ^ "Buchans mine". Filing Services Canada Inc. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2006.
  42. ^ Bell, Trevor; Liverman, David. "Mineral Resources". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  43. ^ "Geological survey: Dimension stone in Newfoundland and Labrador". Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  44. ^ "The Economy 2003 - Newfoundland and Labrador Forestry and Agrifoods". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original on 8 March 2005. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  45. ^ "Rodriques Winery". Rodrigues Winery. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
  46. ^ Tuck, James A. "Museum Notes - The Maritime Archaic Tradition". "The Rooms" Provincial museum. Archived from the original on 8 May 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  47. ^ Renouf, M.A.P. "Museum Notes - Palaeoeskimo in Newfoundland & Labrador". "The Rooms" Provincial museum. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  48. ^ "Population distribution". Newfoundland Outport. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2007.

External links

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