Newfoundland and Labrador

C

Climate

Most of the province has a subarctic climate with short, cool summers and long, cold winters. The cold Labrador Current sweeps the shores of Newfoundland, and the general circulation of the air brings cold winds from the continent during most of the year. The interior of the island has a bleak climate, and the light forest cover on the plateau allows frequent cold winds to gust across it. The coastal regions of Labrador are quite cold, especially in the north, and are too harsh for the cultivation of crops. In winter the bays and coves freeze over, bringing to a halt most coastal navigation. Summer breaks suddenly in Labrador in about the middle of June, when the interior regions become considerably warmer than the coast.

Average July temperatures are 13°C to 16°C (55°F to 60°F) in Newfoundland and 10°C to 13°C (50°F to 55°F) in Labrador. Average January temperatures range from -4°C (25°F) in southern Newfoundland to about -18°C (0°F) in most of Labrador. The maximum summer temperature throughout most of the province is about 32°C (90°F). Winter temperatures may fall to -51°C (-60°F) in western Labrador and -34°C (-30°F) on the island.

Precipitation averages about 1,120 mm (about 44 in) yearly in Newfoundland. In Labrador precipitation varies from about 1,020 mm (about 40 in) in the southeast to about 510 mm (about 20 in) in the extreme north. Heavy winter snowfalls are common, especially in Newfoundland.

D

Plant Life

About one-third of Newfoundland is forested, and most of the rest of the island is made up of barren areas of reindeer moss and lichens. The forests consist almost entirely of conifers. The most important species are white and black spruce, balsam fir, birch, red pine, and aspen. Smaller plants include the insect-eating pitcher plant, sheep laurel, and snakehead, a marsh orchid. Blueberries and partridgeberries thrive in the barren regions.

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Labrador’s vegetation is similar to that of Newfoundland, with large areas of barren ground. Because of poor soil and the harsh climate, the trees are often small for their species. Black spruce and balsam fir is the dominant tree cover in most forested areas.

E

Animal Life

Newfoundland has fewer varieties of animals than the mainland. Among the animals native to the island are the black bear, woodland caribou, otter, muskrat, fox, and lynx. Moose, which were introduced to the island early in the 20th century, are fairly numerous. Most of the animals found in Newfoundland are also found in Labrador. In addition, Labrador has such animals as the polar bear, mink, wolverine, wolf, and Barren Ground caribou. Birds found all year round in the province are the spruce partridge, ptarmigan, and osprey. Numerous varieties of ducks and geese inhabit the province in summer, and many coastal areas support huge colonies of seabirds, especially gulls, gannets, murres, and puffins. An important breeding area for the harp seal is located off the province’s northern coast. There are no snakes or other reptiles in Newfoundland and Labrador.

F

Conservation

With a small population and a slowly developing industrial base, Newfoundland and Labrador has relatively few environmental problems. The main ones are solid waste (trash) management and water pollution by community sewage. Most communities lack sewer systems and sanitary landfills for household trash. The federal government enforces federal regulations dealing with certain kinds of air and water pollution. The provincial department of environment administers provincial public lands, including 64 parks and various ecological reserves. To protect seabirds, six sanctuaries have been established in island and coastal areas. In addition, the department is responsible for provincial antipollution efforts, which include the assessment and approval of new development projects, the licensing of water-well drillers and commercial pesticide sellers and users, and the promotion of voluntary recycling of glass and metal containers.

III

Economic Activities

The economy of Newfoundland and Labrador is heavily dependent on natural resources. For centuries the most important economic activity was cod fishing. Farming was a supplementary activity for many fishers, but the poor soil and harsh climate prevented any significant agricultural development. Exploitation of the province’s rich forestry and mineral resources expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and by the 1920s the rising demand for pulp and paper made forestry a leading economic activity. After the end of World War II (1939-1945), iron ore mining in Labrador emerged as a major economic activity.

Since the 1960s, the province has experienced chronic economic hardship because of declining fish stocks and fluctuating world demand for many of its resource-based products. Fishing, pulp and paper manufacturing, and iron ore mining remain major activities. However, they generally do not provide sufficient jobs or income to alleviate widespread poverty and a high rate of unemployment, even during periods of economic expansion. Efforts to exploit offshore deposits of oil and natural gas beginning in the early 1990s have provided a new source of revenue and employment for the province that has partially offset declines in other sectors. Newfoundland and Labrador frequently has the highest unemployment rate in Canada, and financial assistance from the federal government is essential to the well-being of the population. In 2006, 16.5 percent of the labor force was unemployed.

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