Red Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
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Red Bay is a fishing village and former site of a Basque whaling station on the southern coast of Labrador in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Between 1550 and 1600, Red Bay was a major Basque whaling station and has been designated a UNESCO Historical site. The site is home to three Basque whaling galleons and four small whaling craft. The discovery of these vessels makes Red Bay one of the most precious underwater archaeological sites in the Americas.
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[edit] Geography
Red Bay is a natural harbour residing in the bay that gives it its name. In the bay are Penney Island and Saddle Island, that were used by the Basques for their whaling operation. The location of the sunken vessel San Juan is near Saddle Island.
[edit] History
Between 1530 and 1600, Red Bay was a center for Basque whaling operations. Sailors from southern France and northern Spain sent 15 whaling ships and 600 men a season to the remote outpost on the Strait of Belle Isle to try to catch the Right whale and Bowhead whales that populated the waters there, according to Memorial University of Newfoundland.
In 1565, a ship -- believed to be the San Juan -- sank in the waters off Red Bay during a storm. Other, smaller vessels, such as whaling chalupas, have also been recovered from the waters.
Another galleon was found 25-35 feet below water in 2004. It was the fourth trans-oceanic ship to have been found in the area.
A cemetery on nearby Saddle Island holds the remains of 140 whalers. Many of the people buried there are thought to have died from drowning and exposure.
Historians believe that a decline in the whale stocks eventually led to the abandonment of the whaling site at Red Bay. Today, an interpretive center in Red Bay explains the history to visitors.
Local legends of Red Bay make reference to a hidden treasure buried in a body of water known as Pond on the Hill at the foot of Tracey Hill by the infamous pirate Captain William Kidd. An attempt was made to find the treasure by residents of Carrol's Cove by draining the pond. The attempt had failed.
[edit] Culture
| Population in 2001 | 264 |
| Population change from 1996 | -4.1% |
| Median age | 39.6 |
| Number of families | 80 |
| Number of married couples | 65 |
| Total number of dwellings | 90 |
| Catholic | 3.8% |
| Protestant | 77.3% |
| Land Area (km².) | 1.58 |
Statistics Canada detail demographics follow link here
[edit] Notable persons of community
- Sherylynn Butt, Miss Canada International
[edit] Tourist attractions
- Basque whaling station
- Iceberg and Whale Watching
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Basque whaling historical page
- A visitors guide to Red Bay and the Labrador Coastal Drive
- Parks Canada
- Personal blog about Red Bay. Photographs by Senator Bill Rompkey.
- Personal blog about Biarritz in France including photographs and information about its Basques, Newfoundland & Labrador whaling heritage
- Parks Canada page
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Newfoundland and Labrador |
|---|---|
| Newfoundland - Labrador - Nunatsiavut | |
| Census divisions | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 |
| Cities | Corner Brook - Mount Pearl - St. John's |
| Other communities | Bishop's Falls - Bonavista - Botwood - Carbonear - Channel-Port aux Basques - Clarenville - Deer Lake - Ferryland - Fogo - Gander - Grand Falls-Windsor - Happy Valley-Goose Bay - Harbour Grace - Labrador City - Marystown - Nain - Pasadena - Peterview - Placentia - Red Bay - St. Anthony - Stephenville |
