Rigolet, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Rigolet (population 310) is a remote, coastal Labrador
Inuit
community established in 1735 by French-Canadian trader Louis Fornel
.
Located on Hamilton Inlet
, which is at the entrance to fresh water Lake Melville
; Rigolet is on salt water and is accessible to navigation during the winter. Although there is no road access, the community is accessible by snowmobile trail, Rigolet Airport
, or seasonally via a coastal ferry from Happy Valley-Goose Bay
.
Although there are still coniferous trees surrounding the village, a few kilometers northeast into Hamilton Inlet, the terrain changes drastically to a sub-arctic tundra
. Minke and Humpback
whales are commonly observed in nearby waters. Rigolet is part of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims area and is overseen by the Nunatsiavut
government. Approximately 5% of Rigolet's population is non Inuit.
It appears as the town of Rigo in John Wyndham
's novel The Chrysalids
.
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
community established in 1735 by French-Canadian trader Louis Fornel
Louis Fornel
Louis Fornel was a French merchant, explorer, and seigneur in New France. Involved in maritime trade and both born and married into prominent Quebec families, Louis Fornel was among the partners Louis Bazil convinced to invest in his ill-fated Labrador sealing station.Determined to claim a sealing...
.
Located on Hamilton Inlet
Hamilton Inlet
Hamilton Inlet is a fjord-like inlet on the Labrador coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Together with Lake Melville, it forms the province's largest estuary, extending over 140 kilometres inland to Happy Valley-Goose Bay and primarily draining the Churchill River and...
, which is at the entrance to fresh water Lake Melville
Lake Melville
Lake Melville is a saltwater tidal extension of Hamilton Inlet on the Labrador coast in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Comprising 3,069 square kilometres, and stretching 140 kilometres inland to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, it forms part of the largest estuary in the province,...
; Rigolet is on salt water and is accessible to navigation during the winter. Although there is no road access, the community is accessible by snowmobile trail, Rigolet Airport
Rigolet Airport
Rigolet Airport is located adjacent to Rigolet, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada....
, or seasonally via a coastal ferry from Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Happy Valley – Goose Bay is a Canadian town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Located in the central part of Labrador, the town is the largest population centre in that region. Incorporated in 1973, the town composes the former town of Happy Valley and the Local Improvement District of...
.
Although there are still coniferous trees surrounding the village, a few kilometers northeast into Hamilton Inlet, the terrain changes drastically to a sub-arctic tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
. Minke and Humpback
Humpback
Humpback may refer to:* Humpback whale* Humpback dolphin* Humpback salmon* Humpback bridge* Humpback, a variant of hunchback...
whales are commonly observed in nearby waters. Rigolet is part of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims area and is overseen by the Nunatsiavut
Nunatsiavut
Nunatsiavut is an autonomous area claimed by the Inuit in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The settlement area includes territory in Labrador extending to the Quebec border. In 2002, the Labrador Inuit Association submitted a proposal for limited autonomy to the government of Newfoundland and...
government. Approximately 5% of Rigolet's population is non Inuit.
It appears as the town of Rigo in John Wyndham
John Wyndham
John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was an English science fiction writer who usually used the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes...
's novel The Chrysalids
The Chrysalids
The Chrysalids is a science fiction novel by John Wyndham, first published in 1955 by Michael Joseph. It is the least typical of Wyndham's major novels, but regarded by some people as his best...
.
