Not only Newfoundland but Labrador has their own dog breeds named after them. Both breeds are popular rescue dogs, the Newfoundland dog was the first dog ever to jump from a helicopter for a water rescue. This first rescue happened in Italy.

Newfoundland has its own dog

Newfoundland has no snakes

In addition to having no snakes Newfoundland has no crickets, porcupines, skunks or deer. We do, however, have a whole lot of moose…over 100,000 of them. They were introduced to our province over 100 years ago!

The island of Newfoundland has its own time zone, 30 minutes ahead of Atlantic Standard Time. Most importantly, we are the first place in North America to see the sunrise and what a beautiful sunrise it is!

Newfoundland has its own timezone

Iceberg Alley

During the summer, Newfoundland is called "Iceberg Alley" because a large number of them float down from the Arctic.

Lowest Crime Rate in Canada

The crime rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is very low. In fact, it is tied with Prince Edward Island for having the lowest crime rate among the Canadian provinces and even one of the lowest in all of North America.

First Non-stop Transatlantic Flight

British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight from St. John’s Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland. For their feat, they won the London Daily Mail prize of £10,000, a prize was presented by Winston Churchill.

Vikings in Newfoundland

L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland is home to the only Viking settlement in North America (outside of Greenland). This settlement dates back over 1000 years ago!

Whales, whales and more whales!

Newfoundland has one of the most spectacular whale populations in the world. 22 species of whales live in the waters around the province. This includes the world’s largest population of humpback whales. Other species include minke, sperm, blue and orca.

Newfoundland Geography

Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province in Canada with a population of just over 500,000 people. The Strait of Belle Isle separates the province into two geographical divisions, Labrador and the island of Newfoundland. The province also includes over seven thousand small islands. Newfoundland and Labrador has a land area of 405,720 km2, which is almost twice the size of Great Britain, with less than one percent of Great Britian's population! Now that's a lot of wide-open space!

Newfoundland and Labrador is covered in vast rocky coastlines, barrens, dense boreal forests, and ancient rock formations – the amazing, wild beauty of this province surrounds you everywhere you go! It is home to three National Parks and one National Park Reserve. Newfoundland and Labrador also prides itself in 18 wilderness and ecological reserves, and breathtaking botanical gardens!

The sun rises here first in North America! Did you know that Canada is so vast that Newfoundland is closer to Madrid and Frankfurt than Calgary or Vancouver? Having our own time zone is just one example of the uniqueness of this province. With more than 29,000 kilometres of coastline, there are endless beaches, 22 species of whales, 35 million seabirds (which is why Newfoundland and Labrador is named the seabird capital of North America) and is the best place in the world to see icebergs!

Regions of Newfoundland

The island of Newfoundland is divided into three (3) regions, Western, Central and Eastern. Each region is a blend of urban and rural landscapes, each of which has its own highlights.

Western Region

Corner Brook is the largest urban centre with a population of almost 20,000 people, it has shopping malls, a movie theatre, bowling, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ice rink, gymnastics, hiking trails and much more. From a rural perspective, the Western region has the best skiing and snowboarding in Atlantic Canada at Marble Mountain. The region is also home to Gros Morne National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site and some of the most breathtaking views you'll ever see!

Central Region

Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander are the two largest urban centres in the region with populations of almost 15,000 and 10,000 people respectively. Between these two communities they have shopping malls, a movie theatre, bowling, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ice rinks, gymnastics, hiking trails and much more. From a rural perspective, the Central Region is popular for many outdoor activities, like fishing, hunting, quadding and snowmobiling. The region is home to a community called Twillingate, which is known as the iceberg capital of the world!

Eastern Region

St. John’s and Mount Pearl are the two largest urban centres in the region with combined population of almost 250,000 people, about half of the population of the province! The region has shopping malls, movie theatres, bowling, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ice rinks, gymnastics, hiking trails and much more. From a rural perspective, the Eastern Region is home to many small fishing communities where visitors can take a whale watching boat tour. The region is home to the Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve which is the most accessible seabird colony in North America!

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