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Facts
About Newfoundland
Population
(2001). 512,930 ; Labrador, 29,190--rank, 9th province.
Urban, 58.5%; rural, 41.5%. Persons per square mile,
3.6 (per square kilometer, 1.4)--rank, 10th province.
The island lies across the mouth of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, separated from Nova Scotia on the southwest
by the 60-mile- (97-kilometer-) wide Cabot Strait. The
Strait of Belle Isle, only 10 to 15 miles (16 to 24
kilometers) wide, separates it from Labrador. The area
of the island is 43,359 square miles (112,299 square
kilometers). Labrador covers 112,826 square miles (292,218
square kilometers). The Avalon peninsula in the southeastern
corner of the island is the easternmost point of North
America after Greenland.
Largest Cities (1991 census)
St. John's (95,770). Provincial capital; seaport
and center for large fishing fleet; Memorial University
of Newfoundland; food products, machinery, veneer, plywood,
nets and cordage, electrical products.
Mount Pearl (23,689). Residential town near St.
John's.
Corner Brook (22,410). In lumbering region; pulp
and paper mill; cement and gypsum plants; shipping center.
Gander (10,339). International airport; transportation
center.
Stephenville (7,621). On St. George's Bay; fishing;
commercial air base.
Extent. Area, 156,185 square miles (404,517 square
kilometers); island, 43,359 square miles (112,299 square
kilometers), including 2,195 square miles (5,685 square
kilometers) of water surface; Labrador, 112,826 square
miles (292,218 square kilometers), including 10,945
square miles (28,347 square kilometers) of water surface
(7th province in size).
Elevation. Highest, Cirque Mountain, 5,160 feet
(1,573 meters) on Labrador and Lewis Hills, 2,673 feet
(815 meters) on island; lowest, sea level; average,
500 feet (152 meters).
Temperature. Extremes--lowest, -55o F (-48.3o
C), Sandgirt Lake, Jan. 17, 1946, and Ashuanipi, Feb.
7, 1950; highest, 100o F (37.8o C), Goose Bay, July
4, 1944.
Averages at St. John's--January, 26.1 F (-3.3 C); July,
61.1 F (16.2 C); annual, 41.8 F (5.4 C).
Averages at Goose Airport--January, 2.2o F (-16.6 C);
July, 61.4 F (16.3 C); annual, 32.4 F (0.2 C).
Precipitation. Average annual total--at St. John's,
41.57 inches (1,056 millimeters); at Goose Airport,
17.17 inches (436 millimeters).
Land Use. Agricultural, 0.1%; forest, 90.9%;
urban and developed, less than 1%; wildland, 8.0%.
Major Products:
Agricultural. Blueberries, potatoes, turnips,
cabbage, eggs, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, chickens.
Manufactured. Fresh and salted fish, pulp and
paper, particleboard, lumber, food and beverages, boats,
doors and windows, handcrafts.
Mined. Iron, asbestos, zinc, limestone, gypsum,
clay, shale, natural gas, petroleum.
From
Compton's Encyclopedia Deluxe © 1999
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