Newfoundland & Labrador
The easternmost Canadian province comprises of Labrador (which borders on Quebec & Nunavut) & the island of Newfoundland, which lies to the east of mainland Canada. It is a large province with a rugged coastline, deep fjords & high mountains. Icebergs & sea ice abound in winter, while abundant wildlife can be found across the expansive wilderness. There's much to see & do in the province; whether you explore the vast countryside, sample the foods, indulge in some local culture or take a cruise along the coastline & do some whale-watching. Plan to visit a little of each region and stay at some of the numerous cozy cottages and hotels or a Bed and Breakfast during your travels.
Divided into 5 regions (Labrador, Western, Central, Eastern and Avalon) the province has a total area of 405,720 km² & counts for 4.06% of Canada's total area. The island of Newfoundland is roughly triangular & covers 5½ degrees of latitude (which is about the same as the Great Lakes district). Its southern tip lies roughly at the same latitude as Seattle & Paris with the highest elevation being 800m above sea level. No point in Newfoundland is more than 100km (or 62 miles) from the coastline.
Labrador's highest elevation point is in Torngat Mountains in the north, 1500m above sea level, while the Mealy Mountains in the south come a close second with 1200m at their highest point. The area is irregularly shaped & drained by numerous rivers that flow into the Atlantic ocean. Its sea abounds with floating ice packs & icebergs for 8 months of the year, which keeps sea temperatures below a chilly 4C.
The cold Labrador current runs along most of the coastline of the province & so summers in Labrador are mild while winters are very cold. It is not uncommon, however, for extreme high temperatures to occur. Newfoundland's weather is milder than Labrador's, with warmer winters & longer summers than its neighbour. Swimming weather is from the end of June to September on the island. Thanks to the rugged geography of the province, the weather can vary from day to day & sometimes even hour to hour, so it is always advisable to layer your clothing. The province can also experience quite a bit of rainfall, so keep something waterproof handy.
Newfoundland Standard Time is 30 minutes ahead of Atlantic Standard Time & 1½ hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
In Labrador, the area from L'Anse au Clair to Cartwright is on Newfoundland Standard Time, while the rest of Labrador occupies the Atlantic Time Zone.
The currency used in the province is the Canadian dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. One-dollar coins are commonly called 'loonies' because of the picture of the loon (a type of bird native to Canada) depicted on the coin. As a result, two-dollar coins are now known as 'toonies'. Credit card facilities are widely used across Canada with plenty of ATMs available to withdraw cash from. You can exchange travellers cheques at banks and bureaux de change, with even some hotels offering a foreign exchange service – though their rates will not be as good. Many retailers accept US dollars, though they will give change in local currency. Due to fraud, however, some larger denomination US dollar notes might not be accepted.
Tipping in Canada is customary & gratuity is not normally included in the bill. In restaurants, 15% is the accepted amount with 20% for excellent service & these amounts are calculated before tax is added to the bill. It is also considered good practice to tip the various hotel staff that assist with accommodating your stay, as well as taxi drivers, hairdressers, manicurists, etc etc.
Electrical current is 110 volts, 60Hz with American style two-pin plugs and a standard one with a third round grounding pin.
About 98% of the population speak English as a first language, while many also speak French as a second language.
Smoking bans are in place across Canada and smoking is only permitted in dedicated smoking areas. It is prohibited in public places such as bars, restaurants and shopping malls. Tobacco may not be sold to anyone under the age of 19.
