Terra Nova National Park
Encyclopedia
Terra Nova National Park is located on the east coast of Newfoundland in the Canadian
province of Newfoundland and Labrador
, along several inlets of Bonavista Bay
. The park takes its name from the Latin name for Newfoundland.
Terra Nova's landscape is typical of the northeast coast of Newfoundland, with remnants of the Appalachian Mountains
contributing to widely varied and rugged topography throughout the region. The park's seacoast consists of several rocky "fingers" jutting into Bonavista Bay along an area stretching from just north of Port Blandford
to the vicinity of Glovertown
. The coastline varies from cliffs and exposed headlands to sheltered inlets and coves, contributing to Newfoundland's prime recreational boating
area.
Inland areas consist of rolling forested hills, exposed rock faces, and bog
s, ponds and wetland
s. Wildlife protected by the park range from small to large land mammal
s, migratory birds, and various marine life. Terra Nova also protects an area containing remnants of the Beothuk
Nation, as well as many of the early pioneer European settlements in the region.
Terra Nova National Park was created in 1957 and was the first National Park
in Newfoundland and Labrador. Terra Nova protects the Eastern Island Boreal Forest natural region. This region covers most of the island of Newfoundland, east of Deer Lake
, and is characterized by black spruce
trees with pockets of balsam fir
, white pine
, mountain ash
, tamarack
, maple
and other deciduous tree
species.
ecosystem is forest fire
- something that hasn't happened in the region in many years. As a result, the forest of Terra Nova is not mixed. It is mostly old growth forest
with trees of roughly the same age. Forest fire renews the forest and creates new habitat
for many boreal creatures. Another challenge facing Terra Nova is introduced species. Newfoundland suffers from "the island effect". Islands can have very different ecosystem
s than their mainland counterparts. For example, the island of Newfoundland only has 14 native mammals while neighboring Nova Scotia has over 40.
that offer front country camping: Newman Sound and Malady Head. Newman Sound is the bigger of the two and has many sites with electrical capability. Malady Head is a quieter campground and offers more of a "wilderness
experience." There are also a number of backcountry
camping areas that you can hike
, canoe
or kayak
to. There are many trail
s in the park of varying length and difficulty. The main visitor centre is located at Salton's Brook. There you will find marine exhibits, including a touch tank, Coastal Connections boat tour that will take you out into Newman Sound to see bald eagles
, moon jelly fish, snow crab and so much more. There is also a Coast Guard
exhibit, a gift shop http://www.heritagefoundationtnnp.nl.ca/retail.html and a restaurant.
During the summer there are a number of interpretive programs offered at Terra Nova. Almost every night there is a show at the Evening Theatre about the themes of the Park. Current shows include "Go With the Flo" and "Forest Idol." Previous shows include "Forest Feud" and "The Broad Cove Bachelor". Once a week there is also a campfire
program at the campfire circle where you can listen to some sounds of Newfoundland while sipping hot chocolate
. There are also a number of interpretive hikes that cover themes such as introduced species, forest fire, species at risk, and edible plants.
There are a number of activities for kids. There is a Nature House http://www.heritagefoundationtnnp.nl.ca/nature_house.html in Newman Sound Campground that offers daily programs. One of the more popular programs is the Junior Naturalist Program where children get stamps towards becoming a junior naturalist
. There is also a Graduate Naturalist Program where older children get a workbook with lots of fun activities to complete.
Terra Nova also organizes and celebrates a number of special events. Some of the more popular include Canada Day
(July 1), Kids day, Newfoundland and Labrador day, Take a Hike Day, Oceans Day (June 8), and the Heritage Folk Festival http://www.heritagefoundationtnnp.nl.ca/events_august.html(August).
Winter activities at the park include winter camping, snowshoe
ing and cross-country skiing
. People are also welcome to come and have a "mug up" at the park during the winter.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, along several inlets of Bonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay is a large bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It opens directly onto the Atlantic Ocean....
. The park takes its name from the Latin name for Newfoundland.
Terra Nova's landscape is typical of the northeast coast of Newfoundland, with remnants of the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
contributing to widely varied and rugged topography throughout the region. The park's seacoast consists of several rocky "fingers" jutting into Bonavista Bay along an area stretching from just north of Port Blandford
Port Blandford, Newfoundland and Labrador
Port Blandford is a town in eastern Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is in Division No. 7 on Clode Sound. The population in 1940 was 539 and 631 by 1956.According to the 2001 Statistics Canada Census:*Population: 580...
to the vicinity of Glovertown
Glovertown, Newfoundland and Labrador
Glovertown is a town in northeastern Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is in Division No. 7 on Alexander Bay.-History:Originally, Glovertown was called Bloody Bay. That name dated back to the 18th century and supposedly it referred to a massacre of a family of 11 by Beothuk...
. The coastline varies from cliffs and exposed headlands to sheltered inlets and coves, contributing to Newfoundland's prime recreational boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
area.
Inland areas consist of rolling forested hills, exposed rock faces, and bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
s, ponds and wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s. Wildlife protected by the park range from small to large land mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s, migratory birds, and various marine life. Terra Nova also protects an area containing remnants of the Beothuk
Beothuk
The Beothuk were one of the aboriginal peoples in Canada. They lived on the island of Newfoundland at the time of European contact in the 15th and 16th centuries...
Nation, as well as many of the early pioneer European settlements in the region.
Terra Nova National Park was created in 1957 and was the first National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in Newfoundland and Labrador. Terra Nova protects the Eastern Island Boreal Forest natural region. This region covers most of the island of Newfoundland, east of Deer Lake
Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador
-External links:*...
, and is characterized by black spruce
Black Spruce
Picea mariana is a species of spruce native to northern North America, from Newfoundland west to Alaska, and south to northern New York, Minnesota and central British Columbia...
trees with pockets of balsam fir
Balsam Fir
The balsam fir is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States .-Growth:It is a small to medium-size evergreen tree typically tall, rarely to tall, with a narrow conic crown...
, white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
, mountain ash
Sorbus
Sorbus is a genus of about 100–200 species of trees and shrubs in the subfamily Maloideae of the Rose family Rosaceae. Species of Sorbus are commonly known as whitebeam, rowan, service tree, and mountain ash...
, tamarack
Tamarack Larch
Tamarack Larch, or Tamarack, or Hackmatack, or American Larch is a species of larch native to Canada, from eastern Yukon and Inuvik, Northwest Territories east to Newfoundland, and also south into the northeastern United States from Minnesota to Cranesville Swamp, West Virginia; there is also a...
, maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
and other deciduous tree
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
species.
Challenges
Terra Nova, like many parks, has challenges in preserving its ecological integrity. Firstly, one of the mechanisms to renew a boreal forestTaiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
ecosystem is forest fire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
- something that hasn't happened in the region in many years. As a result, the forest of Terra Nova is not mixed. It is mostly old growth forest
Old growth forest
An old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age , and thereby exhibits unique ecological features. An old growth forest has also usually reached a climax community...
with trees of roughly the same age. Forest fire renews the forest and creates new habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
for many boreal creatures. Another challenge facing Terra Nova is introduced species. Newfoundland suffers from "the island effect". Islands can have very different ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s than their mainland counterparts. For example, the island of Newfoundland only has 14 native mammals while neighboring Nova Scotia has over 40.
Activities
There are lots of things to do during your visit to Terra Nova National Park. There are two campgroundsCampsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
that offer front country camping: Newman Sound and Malady Head. Newman Sound is the bigger of the two and has many sites with electrical capability. Malady Head is a quieter campground and offers more of a "wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
experience." There are also a number of backcountry
Backcountry
A backcountry area in general terms is a geographical region that is:* isolated* remote* undeveloped* difficult to accessThe term may apply to various regions that are reasonably close to urban areas but are:* not immediately accessible by car...
camping areas that you can hike
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, canoe
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
or kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
to. There are many trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s in the park of varying length and difficulty. The main visitor centre is located at Salton's Brook. There you will find marine exhibits, including a touch tank, Coastal Connections boat tour that will take you out into Newman Sound to see bald eagles
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
, moon jelly fish, snow crab and so much more. There is also a Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
exhibit, a gift shop http://www.heritagefoundationtnnp.nl.ca/retail.html and a restaurant.
During the summer there are a number of interpretive programs offered at Terra Nova. Almost every night there is a show at the Evening Theatre about the themes of the Park. Current shows include "Go With the Flo" and "Forest Idol." Previous shows include "Forest Feud" and "The Broad Cove Bachelor". Once a week there is also a campfire
Campfire
A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, to serve the following functions: light, warmth, a beacon, a bug and/or apex predator deterrent, to cook, and for a psychological sense of security. In established campgrounds they are usually in a fire ring for safety. Campfires are a popular feature of...
program at the campfire circle where you can listen to some sounds of Newfoundland while sipping hot chocolate
Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is a heated beverage typically consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar...
. There are also a number of interpretive hikes that cover themes such as introduced species, forest fire, species at risk, and edible plants.
There are a number of activities for kids. There is a Nature House http://www.heritagefoundationtnnp.nl.ca/nature_house.html in Newman Sound Campground that offers daily programs. One of the more popular programs is the Junior Naturalist Program where children get stamps towards becoming a junior naturalist
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
. There is also a Graduate Naturalist Program where older children get a workbook with lots of fun activities to complete.
Terra Nova also organizes and celebrates a number of special events. Some of the more popular include Canada Day
Canada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
(July 1), Kids day, Newfoundland and Labrador day, Take a Hike Day, Oceans Day (June 8), and the Heritage Folk Festival http://www.heritagefoundationtnnp.nl.ca/events_august.html(August).
Winter activities at the park include winter camping, snowshoe
Snowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
ing and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
. People are also welcome to come and have a "mug up" at the park during the winter.
See also
- National Parks of Canada
- List of National Parks of Canada
- Heritage Foundation for Terra Nova National Park http://www.heritagefoundationtnnp.nl.ca/index.html
- Parks Canada http://www.pc.gc.ca/