Newfoundland and Labrador

C

Plants and Animals

About 60 per cent of Newfoundland and Labrador is forested, although only about one-half the forest is of commercial value. The province lies in the boreal forest zone, or taiga, and the dominant trees are conifers, primarily black spruce and balsam fir. In Labrador the tree line extends along the coast; north of this line lies subarctic tundra.

Wildlife is diverse, and large mammals are plentiful. Caribou, moose, and black bear are common in all areas, and polar bear are found in the north. Among the many small animals are muskrat, beaver, lynx, otter, and porcupine. Seafowl nest in great numbers on some of the province's headlands and nearshore islands; the most common are guillemot, gannet, and kittiwake.

D

Products and Industries

Because of the nearness of the Grand Banks, one of the world's richest fishing grounds, Newfoundland and Labrador's economy has historically been dominated by the fishing industry. Since the end of the 19th century, however, the forestry industry and, later, the mining industry have grown in importance. Today minerals are by far the most valuable commodity produced in the province. Huge iron-ore deposits are found in western Labrador and at Bell Island in Conception Bay, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the value of the province's mineral output. Other minerals include copper, lead, and zinc, as well as asbestos, gypsum, flourite, and talc. Uranium is found in eastern Labrador. Oil and natural gas have been discovered off the coast of Labrador.

Less than 1 per cent of the province's land is classified as farmland. Leading crops include vegetables, greenhouse products, berries, and potatoes. Principal agricultural products are livestock, dairy, and poultry products. The province's large forest resources are used mainly in the production of newsprint. Cod is the traditional staple of the fishing economy. Shrimp, lobster, crab, turbot, flounder, and sole are much smaller catches.

The most important industries are those that manufacture fish products and pulp and paper products. Chemical and non-metallic minerals industries are also significant.

III

Population and Administration

According to the 1991 census, Newfoundland and Labrador had 568,474 inhabitants, virtually the same as in 1986. A decade later, this figure fell to 509,700 (2006 estimate). Also in 2006 estimate, the overall population density figure was 1.4 people per sq km (3.6 people per sq mi). English was the first language of more than 98 per cent of the population; less than 1 per cent had French as their only mother tongue. About 4,700 Native Americans, 4,100 Inuit, and 1,400 Metis lived in the province in the late 1980s.

The capital, and largest city, of the province is St John’s (population, 2001, 99,182), on the east coast of the island of Newfoundland. Most of the province’s other large communities, such as Corner Brook (population, 2001, 20,103) and Gander (population 1996, 10,364), are also located on the island. Other important towns and settlements in the province are Mount Pearl (population, 2001, 24,964), Conception Bay South (population, 2001, 19,772), Labrador City (population, 2001, 7,744), and Happy Valley-Goose Bay (population, 2001, 7,969).

A

Education

The province's first school was established at Bonavista in 1726, and the present public education system dates from 1874. Historically, education in Newfoundland and Labrador has been under Church administration, and today most schools are denominational, although publicly supported. Opportunities in higher education are available at a number of institutions in the province. Newfoundland and Labrador's only university is Memorial University of Newfoundland, in St John's; founded in 1925, it has about 13,000 students. The province also has five community colleges, two institutes of applied arts and technology, and a marine institute.

B

Places of Interest

Newfoundland and Labrador has several landmarks commemorating early inhabitants. Port au Choix contains a Native American burial ground approximately 4,000 years old; L'Anse-aux-Meadows is the site of a Viking village from about ad 1000 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Cabot Tower, erected in 1897 to commemorate the first voyage of John Cabot to the region in 1497, stands in the Signal Hill National Historic Site at the entrance to St John's Harbour. In Corner Brook, there is a monument commemorating the life of British navigator and explorer Captain James Cook, who charted the region around 1767. There are more than 90 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds in the province, of which Gros Morne National Park is one of the most attractive.

Most of the province's cultural institutions are located in St John's. Among the most important of these are the Newfoundland Museum, which contains historical exhibits and artefacts of the Beothuk people, the original inhabitants of the area, and the Memorial University Art Gallery. The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra is based in St John's.