Newfoundland (island)

Newfoundland
Nickname: "The Rock"[1][2]
Satellite view of Newfoundland
Map of Newfoundland
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates48°36′N 56°20′W / 48.600°N 56.333°W / 48.600; -56.333
Area108,860 km2 (42,030 sq mi)
Area rank4th largest in Canada
16th largest worldwide
Coastline9,656 km (6000 mi)
Highest elevation814 m (2671 ft)
Highest pointThe Cabox
Administration
Canada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Largest settlementSt. John's (pop. 200,600)
Demographics
DemonymNewfie, Newfoundlander
Population477,787[3] (2016)
Population rank79
Pop. density4.39/km2 (11.37/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsEnglish, Irish, Scottish, French, and Mi'kmaq
Additional information
Time zone
 • Summer (DST)
Longest river: Exploits River
(246 km or 153 mi)[4]

Newfoundland (/ˈnjfən(d)lənd, -lænd/ NEW-fən(d)-lənd, -⁠land, locally /ˌnfənˈlænd/ NEW-fən-LAND;[5] French: Terre-Neuve, locally [taɛ̯ʁˈnœːv]; Mi'kmaq: Ktaqmkuk)[6] is a large island within the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated off the eastern coast of the North American mainland and the geographical region of Labrador.

The island contains 29 percent of the province's land area, but is home to over 90% of the province's population, with about 60% of the province's population located on the small southeastern Avalon peninsula. The island is separated from the Labrador Peninsula by the Strait of Belle Isle and from Cape Breton Island by the Cabot Strait. It blocks the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River, creating the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the world's largest estuary. Newfoundland's nearest neighbour is the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. With an area of 108,860 square kilometres (42,031 sq mi),[7] Newfoundland is the world's 16th-largest island, Canada's fourth-largest island, and the largest Canadian island outside the North.

The provincial capital, St. John's, is located on the southeastern coast of the island; Cape Spear, just south of the capital, is the easternmost point of North America, excluding Greenland. It is common to consider all directly neighbouring islands such as New World, Twillingate, Fogo and Bell Island to be 'part of Newfoundland' (i.e., distinct from Labrador). By that classification, Newfoundland and its associated small islands have a total area of 111,390 square kilometres (43,008 sq mi).[8]

According to 2006 official Census Canada statistics, 57% of responding Newfoundland and Labradorians claim British or Irish ancestry, with 43.2% claiming at least one English parent, 21.5% at least one Irish parent, and 7% at least one parent of Scottish origin. Additionally, 6.1% claimed at least one parent of French ancestry.[9] The island's total population as of the 2006 census was 479,105.

  1. ^ Dekel, Jon (July 22, 2014). "Shaun Majumder brings Burlington, Newfoundland, to the world with Majumder Manor". National Post. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014. After all, it's not every day the a famous native son of The Rock returns to its capital.
  2. ^ Gunn, Malcolm (July 10, 2014). "The term "go anywhere" has been redefined with the redesign of a family favorite". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014. Canada's 10th province is called "The Rock" for good reason.
  3. ^ Population calculated by removing Labrador (27,197), Little Bay Islands (71), Miles Cove (104), Port Anson (130), Lushes Bight-Beaumont-Beaumont North (168), Pilley's Island (294), Brighton (188), Triton (983), Division No. 8, Subd. D (10), Division No. 8, Subd. H (1,900), Cottlesville (271), Summerford (906), Division No. 8, Subd. I (216), Crow Head (177), Twillingate (2,196), Change Islands (208), Fogo Island (2,244), Greenspond (266), St. Brendan's (145), Division No. 7, Subd. L (1,232), Division No. 1, Subd. R (322), Wabana (2,146), Ramea (447) and Dissemination Block 10090097012 (108) from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (519,716).
  4. ^ "Atlas of Canada – Rivers". Natural Resources Canada. October 26, 2004. Retrieved April 19, 2007.
  5. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.
  6. ^ Both names can be found in this document Archived March 28, 2019, at the Wayback Machine.Ikkarumikluak means "place of many shoals" while Kallunasillik means "place of many white people". It is thought the Ikkarumiklua was used before the colonization of Newfoundland and was later replaced by Kallunasillik. It is also thought that Ikkarumiklua may have been a term for the Great Northern Peninsula and not the island as a whole.
  7. ^ "Atlas of Canada, Islands". Retrieved July 19, 2006.
  8. ^ "NL Government website: Areas". Archived from the original on October 3, 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  9. ^ "2006 Statistics Canada National Census: Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. July 28, 2009. Archived from the original on January 15, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.