31 Facts About Newfoundland: Things To Know About 'The Rock'

Newfoundland is a beautiful island located off the Canadian east coast.

Newfoundland is famous for its warm and kind-hearted people as well as for its delicious dishes using codfish. Newfoundland was named so after explorers came across it in the 15th century.

It lies in the easterly part of North America in the Atlantic Ocean, and traces of human habitation in this region goes back 9000 years. Newfoundland is divided from Labrador by three Canadian physiographic regions, namely, the Canadian Shield in Labrador, the eastern St.Lawrence Lowlands, and the Appalachian.

History Of Newfoundland

Newfoundland has seen inhabitants from various places. These inhabitants have brought their culture to Newfoundland and this has resulted in a unique blend of culture and history in the area.

Perhaps the first settlers of this island were the indigenous people from Dorset culture. Later, Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and English migratory fishermen visited. The island was then known by the name 'Terra Nova' which in Portuguese translates to 'New Land'.

Newfoundland is a name that was a result of discussions between people regarding this newfound land. English adventurer and explorer, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, claimed Newfoundland as England's first overseas colony.

A Norse settlement by the name of L'Anse Aux Meadows is about 1000 years old. This place is located near Cape Norman, which is the northernmost tip of Newfoundland.

Newfoundland was first recognized as a colony in 1825. From about 1855 to 1934, it was self-governing.

In the period between 1907 to 1948, Newfoundland enjoyed the status of being a dominion.

Geography And Climate

The North American mainland boasts of a large island by the name of Newfoundland just off its east coast.

The Canadian province of Newfoundland, along with Labrador, constitutes about 29 percent of this province's land area.

Newfoundland and Labrador are situated in Canada's Atlantic region.

The Strait of Belle separates Newfoundland island from Labrador and the Cabot Strait separates it from Nova Scotia.

Newfoundland is a part of the Appalachian system. This landform can be characterized by continental drift, deposition, volcanic action, and crustal deformation.

Newfoundland is among the world's largest islands. The island is triangular, along with the small islands it is associated with.

The climate of Newfoundland is subarctic. It has four distinct seasons with very large seasonal temperature differences. In summers, the province experiences warm and cool temperatures. The winters are cold but not too severe.

Food, Culture, Language And Population

Food, culture, language, and population are some of the best ways to learn about a place.

Newfoundland has been a major exporter of codfish. Fishing has played such an important role in this province and that can also be seen in their food habits as their dishes are predominantly based on seafood.

A typical Sunday meal consists of a very traditional Jiggs dinner. This dinner includes cabbage, boiled root vegetables, and corned beef. Fish and chips, fried cod cheeks, and cod au gratin are all absolutely lip-smacking foods that you must try if you're in Newfoundland.

When it comes to language, the majority of the residents of Newfoundland, about 98 percent, have English as their mother tongue. Newfoundland also has a very rich linguistic history owing to its cultural past.

Spanish, German, French, Scots Gaelic, Irish Gaelic, and Norse speakers as well as other European speakers have left their mark on this province.

However, in Newfoundland today, only Scots Gaelic and the French language can usually be heard. Indigenous languages from Inuktitut, Algonquian can be heard at times.

The English spoken in Newfoundland is unique. This English consists of a lot of non-standard linguistic features. These features can be observed in their grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and expression.

A dictionary by the name of the 'Dictionary of Newfoundland English' can also be found.

Its indigenous heritage and rich history give Newfoundland a unique culture. Folklore, folktales, and songs are there in abundance.

Visual arts are also very important. The Art Gallery and The Provincial Museum at St.John's reflect the rich history well.

Economy, Transportation And Sports

The most important aspect of the Newfoundland economy has been cod fishing for a very long time. There is a lot of dependence on natural resources.

Apart from fishing, especially in Labrador, natural gas reserves and offshore oil have also been a staple of the economy. Manufacturing, hydroelectricity, mining, pulp, and paper are some of the major industries in Newfoundland today.

Being an island, the major transportation has always been through the sea even though roads have existed on the Avalon Peninsula. There are ferry services that run between Newfoundland and Labrador.

When it comes to sports, Newfoundland and Labrador is a major hockey province. The residents love to relax by watching hockey. However, as in the rest of the world, soccer and cricket used to be the most popular sport in the 19th century in Newfoundland.

Cricket was the most important sport in the capital city of St.John's, which is located adjacent to Mount Pearl city.

Other Miscellaneous Facts

Here are some other fascinating Newfoundland facts:

The people here are known to be warm, friendly, and extremely kind-hearted. Owing to the visits by various European explorers and settlers, Newfoundland has a mix of English, Scottish, and French as well as Irish people.

John Cabot, the famous Italian navigator, was among the first European contact with the land. In the year 1949, Newfoundland officially became a part of the Canadian confederation. Even after the union, Newfoundland retained the Union Jack present in its legislature and designated it as the national flag.

Newfoundland is lovingly called 'the rock' by its residents as it is located well out in the North Atlantic.

Newfoundland is also loved by birds.

The west coast of Newfoundland boasts of long-range of mountains while the southern coast has more of a submerged shoreline.

When it comes to climate, the winters here are not extremely cold and the summers here are not too warm.

Newfoundland has seen a major burst of tourism in recent years even though its remote location usually proves to be a challenge.

FAQs

What is Newfoundland known for?

Newfoundland is famous for its bright and colorful buildings as well as the warm and friendly personalities of the people living there.

What was Newfoundland's old name?

The old name of Newfoundland was 'Terra Nova'.

What language is spoken in Newfoundland?

The dominant and official language is English, followed by the French language.

How old is Newfoundland?

Newfoundland is at least 1000 years old. It is the oldest colony of Britain.

What is Newfoundland called today?

Newfoundland today is known as Newfoundland and Labrador.

Why did Labrador join Newfoundland?

The name Newfoundland was changed to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001 after a constitutional amendment.

Why do they sound Irish in Newfoundland?

The Irish language arrived in the province when laborers were recruited for fisheries.

Who lived in Newfoundland first?

Indigenous people of the Dorset culture were the first settlers.

Which Vikings landed in Newfoundland?

Leif Erikson is thought to be the first European who set foot in North America.

What did the Vikings call Newfoundland?

Vikings referred to Newfoundland as Vinland.