The Physical Geography Of Newfoundland And Labrador

The Physical Geography of Newfoundland and Labrador:

By: Rachaele Tuhten
With its many diverse landscapes and beautiful views, Newfoundland and Labrador have a stunning and extremely interesting physical geography. Newfoundland is the most eastern part of North America, on the Canadian Shield. This part of the shield is mostly igneous and metamorphic rocks, although sedimentary rocks can be found in the Labrador Trough. The geological landscape of Newfoundland and Labrador is unique, containing some of the oldest rocks in the world, such as the 3.9 billion year old rock in the Torngat Mountains National Park, and is the reason many scientists visit there. Newfoundland and Labrador has a bit of everything; Arctic Tundra, spectacular mountain

However, in 2008, Newfoundland and Labrador stopped receiving equalization payments from the federal government, making it a "have" province for the first time in 60 years. This was due to the boom of the oil industry, as other natural resources have declined over time. Like most every region this province was affected negatively by the global economic crisis. Part of the population still travel to other areas for work; for example to the oil sands in Alberta where labour is needed. The top industries of Newfoundland and Labrador are focused in the service industry: Some examples are financial services, healthcare, and banking. Tourism also provides some job opportunities. The natural resources of this beautiful eastern land provide a large economic boost to this province as well. Even though the fishing industry is now struggling, other resources like oil and minerals offer opportunities for economic growth and job employment. The offshore oil and gas industry as well as mining have helped move Newfoundland and Labrador from a have not region to a have region. The climate and soil offer few agricultural opportunities and those that are available revolve around livestock. The largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador is St. John's with 40% of the province's population. The economic difficulties of Newfoundland and Labrador still persist today, but utilization of the province’s Natural

Although there are no extremes in temperature due to the maritime climate, the weather can rapidly change from sunny to rainy. The temperature ranges from a chilly -18 degrees celsius in the winter to warmer temperatures such as 18 degrees in the short summer. The vegetation in Newfoundland and Labrador is very sparse, with little growth of plants such as berries and plants that can grow in marshier areas. The growing season is short, and limited by the generally rocky ground. There are 4 seasons in Newfoundland and Labrador. Spring is shorter and later in the year compared to British Colombia, and runs from late April to the end of May. This time of year is perfect for whale watching, sightseeing, visiting Iceberg Alley, and boating. Starting in June, and lasting until the end of August, summer is perfect for spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, boating, or sightseeing. There are also many music festivals and cultural events during summer to attend. Fall, taking place in September and October, is a bit cooler than summer, and is the perfect season for hiking, golfing, and camping in the National Parks. In winter, from November to March, it is quite snowy, with many winter storms and cold temperatures, making it the ideal time for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports. Newfoundland and Labrador’s climate is unique, and changeable, holding many different experiences than other parts of