Baccalieu Island

Baccalieu Island
Baccalieu Island as seen from Avalon Peninsula
Baccalieu Island is located in Newfoundland and Labrador
Baccalieu Island
Baccalieu Island
Location of Baccalieu Island in Newfoundland
Geography
Coordinates48°07′49″N 52°48′05″W / 48.13028°N 52.80139°W / 48.13028; -52.80139
Area5 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Highest elevation137 m (449 ft)
Highest point 
Administration
Canada
ProvinceNewfoundland and Labrador
Demographics
Population0

Baccalieu Island or Bacalhoo Island[1] (/ˌbækəˈl/)[1] is a 5 km2 uninhabited island at the northern extremities of Conception Bay in Subdivision 1G, near the community of Red Head Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is separated from the island of Newfoundland by Baccalieu Tickle, a small strait and an abundant fishing ground. The island has some trees but is mostly rocky.

The name Baccalieu is derived either from the Portuguese bacalhau, Spanish bacalao or the Basque baccalos, all meaning "codfish". Early Portuguese maps dating before Columbus' voyage indicate an island west of the Azores named Terra do Bacalhau which may have been the whole island of Newfoundland. Modern Baccalieu Island was known to Europeans by that name since at least 1556, when it was drawn on the Gastaldi map as "Bacalaos".[2]

  1. ^ a b The Canadian Press (2017), The Canadian Press Stylebook (18th ed.), Toronto: The Canadian Press
  2. ^ The Gastaldi map Archived 2005-03-16 at the Wayback Machine