Great Northern Peninsula
Encyclopedia
The Great Northern Peninsula is the largest and longest peninsula
of the island of Newfoundland, Canada
, approximately 225 km long and 80 km wide at its widest point and encompassing an area of 17,483 km². It is defined as that part of Newfoundland
from Bonne Bay
northwards around Cape Norman
and Cape Bauld
and thence southwards to the head of White Bay
, bounded by the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the west, the Strait of Belle Isle on the north and the Labrador Sea
and White Bay on the east.
called the Long Range Mountains
and the low-lying coastal areas around which all of settlements can be found. The Long Range Mountains are a mixture of steep mountain valleys with spectacular fiords leading to the sea and mountainous areas dotted with many lakes and rivers. The northern end of the peninsula is indented by a large bay called Hare Bay
. The south and eastern end of the peninsula are mountainous, while the western end has a coastal plane in the northern half and deep fiords in the southern half.
Gros Morne National Park
is located on the peninsula.
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
of the island of Newfoundland, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, approximately 225 km long and 80 km wide at its widest point and encompassing an area of 17,483 km². It is defined as that part of Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
from Bonne Bay
Bonne Bay
Bonne Bay is a bay in Newfoundland, Canada. It is located on the western side of Newfoundland and separates Great Northern Peninsula from the rest of the island. It is a part of Gros Morne National Park. Bonne Bay has a population of about 7000 people....
northwards around Cape Norman
Cape Norman
Cape Norman is a barren, limestone headland located at the northernmost point of insular Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador....
and Cape Bauld
Cape Bauld
Cape Bauld is a headland located at the northeasternmost point of Great Northern Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador....
and thence southwards to the head of White Bay
White Bay (Newfoundland)
White Bay is a large bay in Newfoundland, Canada....
, bounded by the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the west, the Strait of Belle Isle on the north and the Labrador Sea
Labrador Sea
The Labrador Sea is an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean between the Labrador Peninsula and Greenland. The sea is flanked by continental shelves to the southwest, northwest, and northeast. It connects to the north with Baffin Bay through the Davis Strait...
and White Bay on the east.
Topography
The Great Northern Peninsula can be divided into two main topographic areas, the high plateauPlateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
called the Long Range Mountains
Long Range Mountains
The Long Range Mountains are a series of mountains along the west coast of the Canadian island of Newfoundland. They also form the northernmost section of the Appalachian chain on the eastern seaboard of North America...
and the low-lying coastal areas around which all of settlements can be found. The Long Range Mountains are a mixture of steep mountain valleys with spectacular fiords leading to the sea and mountainous areas dotted with many lakes and rivers. The northern end of the peninsula is indented by a large bay called Hare Bay
Hare Bay (Newfoundland)
Hare Bay is a natural bay located on the eastern side of the Northern Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador....
. The south and eastern end of the peninsula are mountainous, while the western end has a coastal plane in the northern half and deep fiords in the southern half.
Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne National Park is a world heritage site located on the west coast of Newfoundland. At , it is the second largest national park in Atlantic Canada ....
is located on the peninsula.