The 7 Surprising Wonders of Newfoundland
Newfoundland is amazing.
The island has majestic scenery, unusual weather, unique geology and the legacy of thousands of years of human history. Everywhere you go, you'll find something to grab your attention.
With so much to choose from, what exactly do Newfoundlanders think are the island’s most amazing sites?
In an effort to spur discussion, in the spring of 2007 — 15 years ago now — I challenged readers of this website to nominate a site in Newfoundland that ought to be included among 'The Seven Wonders of Newfoundland.' I collected the nominations into a list and invited the public to vote. Local CBC covered it and, to my surprise, over 13 000 votes were logged!
When the dust settled, the top seven were not what I would have guessed. The following were the top seven in order of popularity:
Wreckhouse, NL
1. Wreckhouse
This stretch of land, at the western end of the Codroy Valley is infamous for its wind. If people from Newfoundland (one of the world's windiest places) think a place is wondrously windy you have to sit up and take notice. Winds in excess over 200km/hr have been measured there.
In the days of the railway, winds used to blow cars off the track. Today transport trucks avoid the area on blustery days. So infamous is this area, the term 'Wreckhouse winds' was added to the Canadian Oxford English Dictionary in 2004.
2. Underground Salmon Pool, Roddickton
This was a new one for me -- I hadn't heard of it before its nomination. On the eastern edge of the Great Northern Peninsula there is an underground cave through which salmon migrate. The Department of Tourism claims it is the only known place in the world where salmon migrate through an underground cave. A one of kind cave? Sounds wondrous to me.
3. The Ovens, Burnt Cape
The Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve is home to an impressive sea cave called "The Big Oven.' It was formed through years of erosion. Nearby you'll find the 'Little Oven.' For my money, one of the most interesting features is the site's 'Cannon Holes' smaller sea caves that are now above the waterline. This site is still on my to-do list.
Western Brook Pond, NL
4. Western Brook Pond
This land-locked fjord in Gros Morne National Park may be the postcard image for the province. No wonder its a wonder! The fjord's 600m cliffs are inspiring. I've never seen a picture that truly captures the wonder of this place. If you haven't gone, make it a priority.
Tablelands
5. The Tablelands
Gros Morne is well represented in this list, and justifiably so: the park is amazing. Number five on the list is The Tablelands -- a place where continents collided and thrust the Earth's mantle to the surface. The Tablelands are one of the very few places you can see (and walk on) this usually hidden part of the planet. Its otherworldly... and beautiful.
6. L'Anse Aux Meadows
On the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula you will find the remnants of a Norse settlement. L'Anse Aux Meadows offers the first known evidence of a European settlement in the Americas. If you visit today you will find reconstructions and a UNESCO recognized historic site that interprets the significance of the find.
7. Beothuk Settlement, Boyd's Cove
Rounding out the top seven is the Beothuk Settlement at Boyd's Cove. 300 years ago the site was inhabited by the Beothuck. If you visit today you can see the artifacts and the outlines of the house-pits that once dotted the beautiful coast. It is now home to the Spirit of the Beothuk, a beautiful statue by famed artist Gerald Squire.
It’s not necessarily the list I would have created — which was exactly the point. I learned about wondrous places on the island I’d never even heard of.
It’s been 15 years since I first asked the question and I wonder, have opinions changed? If there’s a place you think is amazing, that no trip to island is complete without seeing, I’d love to know about it — leave a comment, or register it in the form below.
