The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly province in Canada.  Geographically, the province lies between the 46th and 61st parallels with the bulk of the island portion being below the 50th parallel. The island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the larger Labrador portion is on the eastern part of the Canadian mainland bordering the North Atlantic Ocean.  The waters off the coast of the province have come to be known as “Iceberg Alley”.  This is because each year in the spring and summer months huge chucks of ice which break away from glaciers in Greenland drift past the province.

Has Its Own Time Zone
Newfoundland and Labrador has a land area of 405,720 km2 - more than three times the total area of the Maritime Provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island). Due to its unique geographic location the province has its own time zone (NST Newfoundland Standard Time), which is ½ hour ahead of Atlantic Standard Time.  However, only the island portion of the province is located in the NST zone; the majority of Labrador is situated in the AST zone. 

The Rock
Newfoundland has an interesting geological history since the western part of the island is an extension of North America and the eastern portion was once part of northern Africa. When the two parts collided, there was an upwelling of magma which gives us the mineral-rich deposits of central Newfoundland.  The terrain of Newfoundland and Labrador is vast and diverse, ranging from boreal forest, to arctic landscapes, to bog and marsh lands to soaring granite cliffs and fiords.  The province is affectionately known as “The Rock” as the last glaciation scoured the soil off most of the island.  The soil was scraped off and deposited on the Grand Banks off the southeast coast of the island, leaving the terrain of the island with more rocks than soil.

The Weather
The province of Newfoundland & Labrador has two distinct ranges of climate: the island of Newfoundland enjoys a temperate marine climate with no extremes of temperature.
Gros Mourne National Park.  Labrador’s climate is continental, and therefore colder and drier. January, February and March are considered to be winter months, with snow present in all areas. The coastal regions will have average temperatures of -1 Celsius (29F) to -8 Celsius (18F). Inland and northern areas will be much colder. July and August daytime temperatures range from 25 Celsius (77F) to 32 Celsius (90F).

The People
Newfoundland and Labrador has a distinct culture embedded in English, French, and Irish roots.  People from Newfoundland are called "Newfoundlanders" while people from Labrador are called "Labradorians". The province has its own dialects of the English, French, and Irish Gaelic languages.  The province’s people are as eclectic and unique as the land that surrounds them and are often described as the most friendly in all of Canada.

The province boasts the oldest known European settlement in North America; with the Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows dating back to 1000 A.D.  However, Europeans didn’t officially arrive until John Cabot landed at Bonavista on June 24, 1497. On August 5, 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert formally claimed Newfoundland as England's first overseas colony under Royal Prerogative of Queen Elizabeth I.  Newfoundland and Labrador later became the tenth province of Canada having joined Confederation in 1949.
  
According to the 2006 national census Newfoundland and Labrador has a population of 505 469 people. The province is characterised by the large amount of rural or “outport” communities situated along the province’s coastline.  Its capital city of St. John’s is located on the Avalon Peninsula in the southeast corner of the province.

Land of Adventurers and Adventures
Newfoundland and Labrador is an outdoor adventurers dream come true.  The province offers some of the best hunting and fishing in all of North America.  The vast woodlands and coastlines present lots of opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, sea kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing and even spelunking. 

Newfoundland and Labrador Links

Tourism Newfoundland and Labrador

The DownHome – a magazine that focuses on issues in Newfoundland and Labrador

Google maps – Newfoundland and Labrador

City of St. John’s – the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Wikipedia – the Wikipedia article dedicated to Newfoundland and Labrador

Purity Factories Ltd. – a Newfoundland company that produces unique and traditional Newfoundland food