Perhaps it's due to its location. The island of Newfoundland, Canada, boasts a whole host of explorers throughout its history. Not all of them are native to the island; some discovered it themselves. But it's striking that we repeatedly encounter enterprising and courageous adventurers.
On our journey through Newfoundland, Canada, we encountered those who had set out for unknown regions. We'd like to introduce you to three of them: Leif Erickson and his Vikings, Sir John Guy and Captain Bob Bartlett.
The European explorers in Newfoundland, Canada - Leif Erickson and his Vikings
A trip to Newfoundland should actually begin at the island's extreme northeastern tip. It was there that the daring Vikings first set foot on Canadian soil. They had set out from Greenland in search of new land. In this new land, they intended to continue their familiar way of life.
They had chosen one of the most inhospitable places on the island. Even Helge Ingstad, who Viking settlement of L'Anse aux Meadows discovered, still had difficulty reaching the place.
In the 1960s, there was no road to this fishing village on the edge of the Arctic. It was accessible only by boat. Ingstad had to carry his visitors ashore on the back of their boats. I often wonder, "What must it have been like when the Vikings came here?" It was certainly much more difficult.
In any case, they built a small settlement of mud huts on the stormy north coast of Newfoundland. They established themselves – albeit apparently only for a few years – at least well enough to smelt iron. The Vikings' iron nails are irrefutable proof that it must have been them. They settled in this corner of Newfoundland, Canada.
Sir John Guy - colonizer Newfoundland
Perhaps "discoverer" isn't the right word, because John Guy didn't actually discover the island. That was John Cabot. He left no lasting mark on Newfoundland, Canada. A few years later—in 1608—John Guy, a merchant from Bristol, along with other members of the Society of Merchant Venturers, decided to settle the island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
He chose Cuper's Cove, today's Cupids, about an hour north of St. John's, situated in a sheltered bay. Excavations have been taking place here for several years. In the museum next to the town's church, we can see the finds the archaeologists have discovered so far.
John Guy assumed the position of governor of the small settlement that emerged during this period for two years, from 1610 to 1611. He had the area explored. The 39 colonists established fields and began to cultivate crops. Today, we can watch the archaeologists at work. In the museum, we can learn about the events in Canada's oldest settlement.
Captain Bob Bartlett - Arctic explorer
Robert "Bob" Abram Bartlett, on the other hand, was a true explorer and researcher. The Arctic fascinated him his entire life. He was captain of the Roosevelt and brought Commander Robert Peary through the ice pack of the frozen Arctic Ocean. He came within about 150 miles (241 km) of the North Pole.
With Peary to the Arctic
Although he didn't accompany Peary on the final miles to the North Pole, Bartlett was a hero of the Arctic. He returned there several times. Once, he rescued the men of the ill-fated Karluk Expedition, whose leader had abandoned them, and, together with an Inuit companion, crossed the pack ice to Wrangel Island and on to Siberia. From Alaska, he launched a rescue operation for the men left behind.
Rescuers of the Crocker Land Expedition
Just a few years later, he rescued the survivors of the Crocker Land Expedition from the Arctic. They were trapped in the ice there for four years. At his parents' house in Brigus, just a few kilometers from Cupids, we learn about his story and his life.
Animals from the Arctic
The garden of his parents' house was always filled with exotic animals from the Arctic. He brought them home to have them studied by experts. What would the residents of this village on the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, have said when a polar bear suddenly appeared in the neighbor's garden?
One thing became clear to us on our journey through Newfoundland, Canada: The people who live here are resilient and ready to face the elements. And they have to be, because life on "the rock" is still not easy.
Do you know this?
- Hotels in St. John's Newfoundland
- Culinary specialties in Newfoundland
- Newfoundland blogs for travel preparation
- Storytelling in Newfoundland and Labrador has a tradition
- The Cabots and their voyages of discovery
Source: Newfoundland, Canada: own research on site. We would like to thank the kind support of the Tourism authority. However, our opinion remains, as always, our own.
Text Newfoundland Canada: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
