Landmarks of Newfoundland: history, climate

The name of the island of Newfoundland in English means "new land". It is located in the North Atlantic, off the east coast of Canada. The narrow strait of Bell-Il separates it from the southern edge of the Labrador Peninsula, in the East Newfoundland is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, in the west - the Gulf of St. Laurentia. The ancestors of the Indians began to populate it in the first century, and the Europeans - ten years after the discovery of America by Columbus. But neither the one nor the others could not win it, and the island still retained its savage pristine appearance, losing to humans only a small part of its vast territories.

The first Europeans

There is historical evidence that the island of Newfoundland was visited by Norman Vikings back in the 11th century. Historians believe that Icelandic sagas it is called Vinland, and the Labrador peninsula is Markland. Can folk folklore and embellish reality, but on the territory of the island of Newfoundland are the remains of the Norman village, which are a local landmark and are protected by UNESCO as the first European settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

Already in those distant times, this place was not deserted: here lived the ancestors of the Indians and Eskimos, with whom the Vikings and conducted trade, little thought about geographical discoveries. This fever started later.

The age of great travels

It would not be a mistake to say that the island of Newfoundland and the coast of the Labrador Peninsula opened the unconquerable spirit of self-interested European curiosity. In the second half of the 15th century, among the powerful powers of the current EU, there was a fashion to travel to India through the Western Hemisphere. The first to go looking for all the famous Columbus and stumbled upon a new continent - the Spaniards acquired the richest colonies.

Having learned about such unheard-of successes, the Bristol merchants decided to equip their own expedition - the hope to reach blessed lands full of gold and precious spices, many heads were still intoxicated. Since no support from the state, except the blessing of the English King Henry VII, could not be obtained, the enterprise could not boast of a large scale.

Opening of Newfoundland

In May 1497, a ship, commanded by the English navigator of Italian origin John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto), sailed from Bristol's dock, which, by and large, opened the island of Newfoundland for Europeans. The ship was called "Matthew", and on its board there were only 18 people of the team - apparently, the organizers did not count on the rich prey, and the expedition purpose was only the reconnaissance of the area. After spending a little more than a month in the ocean, Cabot reached the northern coast of the island of Newfoundland in June 1497. Having set foot on the ground and declared her possessions of the English crown, the traveler went along the shore further, discovered the Great Newfoundland Bank, rich in fish, "wandered" around the island for a month, turned back and on August 6 arrived in England.

The information brought by Cabot did not reassure: it was scowling, cold, there was nothing but fish. I must say that the records of travelers of those years are covered with the darkness of mystery - no one wanted to share information, fearing the intrigues of competitors. Therefore, the remaining evidence is extremely scarce. Whether John Cabot of Labrador has reached or not, for certain is not known.

Territorial disputes

In this issue, the British were overtaken by the Portuguese: the peninsula got its name on behalf of Hoyo Fernandez Lavrador ("lavradore" - with the Portuguese landowner). In 1501, his compatriots, led by Gaspar Kortereal, arrived in Newfoundland. The monument to this navigator still stands on one of the squares of St. John's, the administrative center of the province (in 1965, the statue was given to the Portuguese, nostalgic for their great maritime past).

For a long time, nobody seriously claimed the territory of Newfoundland, inhabited its indigenous tribes of Indians and Eskimos, as well as visiting Portuguese, French, Irish and English. They traded with the local, exchanging from them valuable skins of beaver, otter and other fur-bearing animals, engaged in fishing and hunting.

At the end of the XVI century in the southwest, whales were hunted and French fished, while in the Northeast the British traded. Belonging to the island was languidly challenged by different European states.

Possessions of the British Crown

In 1701 the Spanish king died - the last of the Habsburg dynasty. In Europe, a war broke out over the Spanish heritage, which lasted for 13 long years. In 1713, according to the terms of the Utrecht peace, Newfoundland went to Great Britain.

However, this was not the end: during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), France, Spain and Britain again began to challenge the territory from each other, and in 1762 an Anglo-French battle took place at St. Johns, in which the British won Finally consolidated their rights.

Claims of the Canadian Confederation

Attempts to lure the island into the sphere of its political and economic influence were undertaken by Canada, but Newfoundland reacted to this without much enthusiasm. In 1869, the proposal to enter the Canadian Confederation was rejected flatly. After, by order of London, the Labrador Peninsula was annexed to Newfoundland, Canada offered assistance in the development of local iron deposits and was again refused: the islanders rightly believed that, being economically dependent on the confederation, they would inevitably lose their sovereignty. But what can be, that can not be avoided.

In the 1930s, the world crisis broke out, which led to the collapse of the economy of the island of Newfoundland. London introduced an "external administration", a special commission was set up to determine the fate of the island. After the end of the Second World War, the decision was made and implemented. In 1948, according to the results of the referendum, the island of Newfoundland became one of the provinces of Canada, which is to this day.

Population and climate

Today, the population of these places is about 500 thousand people. Given that the area of the island is about 111.39 thousand square kilometers, the population is more than modest. The settlements are mostly on the coast, since fishing for a long time was the main means of existence for local residents.

Cool dampness has long declared the rights to the island of Newfoundland, whose climate was considered "terrible" even by the British.

In the summer in the South-East the temperature does not exceed 15 ° C, however, the proximity of the Atlantic causes rather warm winters - it is seldom colder than -4 ° C. In the North-West, the temperature regime is sharper: in summer up to 25 ° C, and in winter 10-degree frosts occur.

The relief of different parts of Newfoundland is also different. In the West, the terrain is mountainous, the Long Range ridge is considered part of the Appalachian Mountains (once the island broke away from the prehistoric continent as a result of a terrible geological cataclysm). In the place where the island of Newfoundland is located, the warm waters of the Gulf Stream meet with the cold Labrador Current. This leads to a significant amount of precipitation on the island (75-1500 mm). Due to the collision of water and air currents of different temperatures for almost a third of the year, white fluffy clouds occupy the island of Newfoundland. The photo of the swirling haze, through which the roofs of St. John looks through, are surprisingly reminiscent of Stephen King's "Fog" scenes.

Local inhabitants

King's monsters, fortunately, are not found on the island. But live terrestrial animals, prospering due to the fact that this province of Canada to date, the least affected by industrialization. Most of the island of Newfoundland is covered with pristine taiga, significant areas are swamped. There are moose, bears, lynx, raccoons, foxes and many other animals. Scattered by numerous fjords and rocky bays, the coast is a real paradise for birds and marine mammals.

Tourism

The opportunity to walk through untouched places attracts many fans of ecotourism. In the Gros-Morne National Park, they find an abundance of wild coastal rocks, the beauty of clear mountain lakes and turbulent rapids. From steep banks you can admire the drifting icebergs and migrating blue whales.

To the services of tourists is the ancient Viking settlement, the oldest city street in North America (Water Street), museums, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Here also come fans of sport fishing: the waters here are still teeming with fish, despite the fact that it has been actively harvested on an industrial scale almost from the time of the discovery of the island of Newfoundland and Labrador. Irresponsible attitude to the natural treasure almost killed this land.

"Fish place"

A large Newfoundland bank - a shallow area of 282.5 thousand square meters. Km, which is still the richest "deposit" of fish in the world. Uncontrolled catching lasted for centuries: in the XIX century, the population of the island of Newfoundland grew from 19 to 220 thousand thanks to settlers who dreamed of earning fishing and whaling.

Environmentalists began to sound the alarm back in the 1970s, but the Government of Canada took severe measures only in 1992 and imposed a moratorium on the catch. By this time, the fishing trawlers of almost all the countries of Europe hunted for a catastrophe. The moratorium severely affected the economy and the well-being of the population. In a short time the island left more than 60 thousand people.

I had to find other means to earn. The extraction of minerals has become more active: there are iron, copper and zinc ore on the island. In the shelf, oil is extracted, cellulose enterprises are opened, tourism is developing at a good rate. Since 2006, the number of people has begun to grow again, indicating the recovery of the local economy.

From Newfoundland - with love

The first thing when mentioning Newfoundland comes to mind is not an island with all its beauties, but big good-natured dogs, whose homeland is rightfully considered to be this inhospitable province. Whence they here undertook, for certain it is not known. According to one version, the breed appeared as a result of crossing Norman dogs with Indian dogs. On the other - the animals were brought by Europeans, and in the isolated conditions of the island there was a breed, whose representatives are sometimes called divers. According to local legend, a black shaggy dog is the result of a love affair between a dog and an otter. That's why Newfoundland swim, dive, water-repellent hair and the famous "otter tail".

Some cynologists, however, argue that there were originally two breeds on the island. The first is powerful black dogs, practically not different from modern Newfoundland. They were harnessed to small two-wheeled carts, and they acted as a kind of vehicle. Another breed, St. Johns - the legendary "water dogs", who swam for hours without knowing fatigue, helped the fishermen pull out the nets and brought hunting hunters to the prey. It is believed that these dogs are the ancestors of today's popular retrievers.

Anyway, but the gift of the island of Newfoundland to mankind is more valuable than diamonds of South Africa or Klondike gold. Is it possible to compare soulless stones or metal with a cheerful and accommodating friend who has been serving people for so many years with faith and truth?