Red Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Red Bay
Location in Newfoundland and Labrador
Red Bay
State :	Canada
Province :	Newfoundland and Labrador
Region:	Census Division No. 10
Coordinates :	51 ° 44 ′  N , 56 ° 26 ′  W Coordinates: 51 ° 44 ′  N , 56 ° 26 ′  W
Area :	1.58 km²
Residents :	169 (as of 2016)
Population density :	107 inhabitants / km²
Time zone :	Newfoundland Time ( UTC − 3: 30 )
Postal code :	A0K

Red Bay is a municipality ( town ) in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador in southern Labrador . In 2013, Red Bay was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List . The population was 169 in 2016.

Geographical conditions

The bay, which gives the place its name, forms a natural harbor. Due to its protected location, this is considered one of the best on the entire Labrador coast. It was also used for ships of the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. In the bay are the islands of Penney Island and Sattle Island .

history

Between about 1543 and the early 17th century, Red Bay was a center of Basque whaling activity. Season 15 whaling ships were ever sent out with about 600 crew to Red Bay from the areas of southern France and northern Spain, in the dangerous, because only temporarily ice-free Strait of Belle Isle Greenland and right whales , which were often at that time in these waters chased . At that time Red Bay was known as the "world capital of whaling" (JA Tuck / R. Grenier).

In December 1565 a ship sank, the wreck of which was found near Sattle Island . This is believed to be the San Juan . In addition, other wrecks of whalers and smaller ships were found that are believed to be sloops of the San Juan . Other modern wrecks are in the vicinity of Red Bay, such as that of the Canadian trawler Bernier (1919), which ran aground on Sattle Island in 1966.

A historic cemetery preserves the bones of 140 whalers.

It is unclear why whaling came to a standstill in Red Bay. It is predominantly assumed that the whale populations collapsed as a result of excessive exploitation and the place was then abandoned. England also blocked its market for imports of Spanish whale trans in 1579, so that Basque whaling fell sharply.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Canadian fishermen again settled in the place, initially seasonally, then permanently.

Red Bay became a National Historic Site of Canada . explained. A local museum displays documents and remains from the whaling era, including a San Juan dinghy .

traffic

Red Bay is connected to the Trans-Labrador Highway . There is a small landing area for planes in the village. The next larger airport is located in the municipality of Blanc-Sablon (Province of Québec).

literature

• James A. Tuck, Robert Grenier, Red Bay, Labrador: World Whaling Capital 1550-1600 , 1989.

Web links

Commons : Red Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador)  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Entry on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website ( English and French ).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Red Bay, Census 2016 . Statistics Canada. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
2. ↑ Website on Basque Whaling in Red Bay
3. ↑ http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1789550
4. ↑ Parks Canada ( Memento of the original from October 9, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. - Red Bay National Historic Site of Canada