Red Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Red Bay | |
---|---|
Town | |
Route 510 (Trans-Labrador Highway) | |
Official name | Red Bay Basque Whaling Station |
Type | Cultural |
Criteria | iii, vi |
Designated | 2013 (37th session) |
Reference no. | 1412 |
Region | Europe and North America |
Official name | Red Bay National Historic Site of Canada |
Designated | 1979 |
Red Bay is a
Geography
Red Bay is a natural harbour residing in the bay that gives it its name, both names in reference to the red granite cliffs of the region. Because of the sheltered harbour it was used during World War II as a mooring site for naval vessels. In the bay are Penney Island and Saddle Island, which were used by the Basques for their whaling operations. The location of the sunken vessel San Juan is near Saddle Island.
History
Between 1550 and the early 17th century, Red Bay, known as Balea Baya (Whale Bay), was a centre for
In 1565, a ship—believed to be San Juan—sank in the waters off Red Bay during a storm. The archaeological investigators of this wreck refer to it as 24M. Other, smaller vessels, such as chalupas, have also been recovered from the waters.
Another galleon was found 25–35 feet below water in 2004. It was the fourth trans-oceanic ship to have been found in the area.
A cemetery on nearby Saddle Island holds the remains of 140 whalers. Many of the people buried there are thought to have died from drowning and exposure.
Historians[who?] believe that a decline in whale stocks eventually led to the abandonment of the whaling stations in Red Bay. Today, an interpretive centre in Red Bay explains the history to visitors.
Local legends of Red Bay make reference to a hidden treasure buried in a body of water known as Pond on the Hill 51°43′43″N 56°26′56″W / 51.72861°N 56.44889°W at the foot of Tracey Hill by the infamous pirate Captain
Red Bay has been designated a
In 2016, the Google Street View imaging service uploaded images of Red Bay. Red Bay is one of the few communities in Labrador with images on the service.[5]
In 2021, the local school, Basque Memorial School closed due to no enrollment.[6]
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Red Bay had a population of 142 living in 65 of its 69 total private dwellings, a change of -16% from its 2016 population of 169. With a land area of 2.31 km2 (0.89 sq mi), it had a population density of 61.5/km2 (159.2/sq mi) in 2021.[7]
Tourist attractions
- Basque whaling stations
- Iceberg and whale watching
- Hiking
- Local entertainment and cuisine
- Fishing
- The Whaler's Restaurant (fish & chips and related cuisine)
See also
- List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador
References
- ^ Statistics Canada (2006). "Red Bay Community Profile". Retrieved 2008-03-16.
- ^ "Labrador town of Red Bay gets World Heritage Site status". 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
- ^ Red Bay. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ "Red Bay Basque Whaling Station". Unesco World Heritage List. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- ^ "Google Street View maps more of Canada's north". 9 May 2016.
- ^ Smyth, Jeff (2021-06-14). "NLESD Closes Three NL Schools with No Student Enrolment". VOCM. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
Further reading
- "Discovery in Labrador: A 16th-Century Basque Whaling Port and Its Sunken Fleet". OCLC 643483454.
- "The Underwater Archaeology of Red Bay: Basque Shipbuilding and Whaling in the 16th Century". Parks Canada. 2007. ISBN 978-0-660-19652-7. OCLC 86005349.