Red Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador

Red Bay is a fishing village in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador in southern Labrador.

Geographical Situation

The bay, which gives the place its name, forms a natural harbor. This is one of the best in the Labrador coast due to its sheltered location. It was also used during the Second World War for ships of the Navy. In the bay are the islands of Iceland and Penney Saddle Iceland.

History

Approximately between 1543 and the early 17th century, Red Bay was a center of Basque whaling activities. From the lands of southern France and northern Spain crew ever season 15 whaling ships with about 600 men sent to Red Bay, who hunted Greenland and right whales in the dangerous, because only temporarily ice-free Belle Isle Road, which were common in those waters at that time. At that time was Red Bay as " the world capital of whaling " (JA Tuck / R. Grenier ).

In December 1565 a ship whose wreck was discovered near Saddle Iceland sank. From this it is assumed that it is the San Juan. In addition, other wrecks were found by whalers and smaller vessels, of which one assumes that it is sloops of San Juan. More modern wrecks near Red Bay, the Canadian trawler Bernier (1919 ), which ran aground in 1966 on Saddle Iceland.

A historic cemetery preserves the bones of 140 whalers.

It is unclear why the whaling in Red Bay came to a standstill. Mostly it is assumed that due to excessive exploitation collapsed whale stocks and the place was abandoned. Also detained England in 1579 its market to imports of Spanish WalTran so that the Basque whaling declined sharply.

At the beginning of the 19th century were re- Canadian fishermen in the place to the ground, first seasonally, then constantly.

Red Bay became a National Historic Site of Canada. explained. A local history museum has documents and relics from the time of whaling, including a dinghy of San Juan.

Traffic

Red Bay is connected to the Trans - Labrador Highway. In the village there is a small landing strip for airplanes. The nearest major airport is located in the town of Blanc -Sablon ( Quebec ).