Newfoundland facts

Interesting facts about Newfoundland --:About 4000 years ago, people of the Archaic Tradition occupied the entire coastline of Newfoundland and Labrador. A cemetery of these people has been excavated by archaeologists at Port aux Choix on the Great Northern Peninsula. In this cemetery have been found a wealth of artifacts (man made objects) including more than 100 human skeletons, musical instruments, fire-making sets, hunting equipment, etc.

Arctic Hares are native to Newfoundland, but Snowshoe Hares were introduced from Nova Scotia in 1864 and 1876. Hares are often confused called rabbits. The Newfoundland Timber or Grey Wolf became extinct on the island in the 1930s.

Petty Harbour( Click on image to enlarge)

There are no snakes, skunks, deer, porcupines or groundhogs on the island of Newfoundland. Chipmunks were introduced to Newfoundland from Nova Scotia in 1962 and 1964.

The motto of Newfoundland and Labrador is "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God".

The only real Viking site in North America is located at L'Anse aux Meadows, north of St. Anthony, on Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula. The remains of the sod houses used by the Vikings can still be seen there, along with some of their tools and weapons.

Newfoundland is one of the largest islands in the world. To get to the island you have to fly or go on a ferry.

Squirrels were introduced to Newfoundland in 1963 and they have now colonized the whole island.

Moose are not native to Newfoundland, but today there are more than 100,000 on the island. 1 pair was introduced in 1878 from Nova Scotia (not thought to have survived). 2 pairs of moose were introduced on May 14, 1904 from New Brunswick. All of the moose in Newfoundland today are descended from the 1904 moose and possibly also from the 1878 moose.

The Mayflower stopped in at Renews (eastern Newfoundland) in 1620, to pick up supplies, during its voyage to the New World.

Marconi received the first Trans Atlantic Wireless signal in 1901 at Cabot Tower on Signal Hill, overlooking St. John’s.

TransAtlantic Air Services made Goose Bay and Gander airports famous throughout the world.