Newfoundland & Labrador - ITMB Publishing Ltd.

The easternmost part of Canada is also its newest part and the oldest British colony. Generations before Jamestown was thought of for colonization, Newfoundland was a valued commercial entity of Britain. Before that, it was a Norse settlement and the only known Norse permanent settlement ever discovered in North America. Today, the province consists of two parts – the island of Newfoundland and the mainland entity called Labrador; hence, the joint name of the map. Side one is the island of Newfoundland, which can only be reached by air or by ship. Ferries operate from Nova Scotia to two destinations on the island, and there is a separate ferry from Quebec to the northern tip of the island. This side also includes the French Overseas Territory of St. Pierre et Miquelon and an inset of St. John’s, the provincial capital. Side 2 concentrates on Labrador, a much larger geographical entity. Most of Labrador is inaccessible for the average traveler, but the brand-new Trans-Labrador Highway has recently been paved and makes access much easier than even a few years ago. This paved highway can be accessed from Newfoundland by the ferry from St. Barbe to Alse, in Quebec. A paved highway leads east and then north to Happy Valley/Goose Bay and then westward to Labrador City, the only significant urban area in Labrador. The trip would take two long days of driving, but is a unique experience. The paved highway then extends into Quebec and, while half of it was still being paved when we drove it, the trip south to Baie-Comeau is a travel adventure. For the first time, a traveler can enter the province from Nova Scotia, drive on good roads all the way to Quebec and continue west to Montreal.