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June 22, 2007
The island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, has been named in Unforgettable Islands to Escape to Before You Die, a book published by BBC Books. The book, written by Steve Davey and Marc Schlossman, showcases 40 islands around the world. Newfoundland is third in the book, after The Society Islands in French Polynesia and Si Phan Don in Loas.
“Just off the east coast of Canada, Newfoundland is known as the ‘crossroads of the world’…and it lives up to its nickname,” Davey states. The description outlines Newfoundland’s close proximity to Europe and some of its notable attractions.
Unforgettable Islands outlines Newfoundland’s connection to some of the world’s significant historic events, from the first North American settlement by the Vikings, Amelia Earhart’s departure from Harbour Grace in 1932, the laying of the first Trans-Atlantic cable in Heart’s Content in 1866 and Marconi’s first Trans-Atlantic wireless message from Signal Hill (in St. John’s) in 1901.
The book also describes Newfoundland’s relation to sinking of the Titanic just 640km from its shore. Here, Davey offers some interesting facts about the icebergs that can be seen along the island’s shoreline in May, June and July.
Of Newfoundland’s many appeals, Davey makes a point of discussing the island’s abundance of wildlife. “Newfoundland is home to the highest concentration of moose in North America, and there are caribou on the Avalon Peninsula. The island’s birdlife is spectacular, especially in the Cape St. Mary’s Ecological reserve, which has some of the most accessible seabird colonies in the world”.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gros Morne is also mentioned at length. “The most dramatic region of the island is arguably Gros Morne National Park. Its landscape is the result of a combination of glaciation and tectonic plate movements, and the Western Brook Pond is set in a classic example of a valley that was carved out by a glacier.”
Davey describes visiting the small settlements along the Newfoundland coast is “like stepping back 100 years in time. These are not just tourist traps; they are well-preserved working fishing communities”.
Unforgettable Islands finishes its section on Newfoundland with a musing about its capital city of St. John’s. “The oldest city in North America, St. John’s is lively and colourful, with a vibrant feel that contrasts well with the island’s unspoilt natural scenery…and the houses that line many of the city’s…streets are painted in different vivid colours.”
Other mentions in the book include Newfoundland’s thriving nightlife, specifically on George Street in St. John’s, which has the highest concentration of bars and nightclubs in the northern part of North America.
Unforgettable Islands to Escape to Before You Die is available for purchase online and in many bookstores in Europe and North America. For more information, visit http://www.stevedavey.com/unforgettable/.
June 10, 2007
An iceberg visited the On Ocean’s Edge luxury properties today as it floated south in the Atlantic Ocean. In the past week, multiple icebergs have appeared around Portugal Cove, Cape Spear, Signal Hill, and other areas in and around St. John’s.
“The nice weather we’ve been having is making it perfect for seeing them”, says Robert Hall, co-founder of Nolan Hall. “The warm air is creating mist off the top of the ice. It’s really striking to see.”
The coast of Newfoundland and Labrador is part of Iceberg Alley, a pathway along the Atlantic Ocean where icebergs move south from Greenland. When icebergs and growlers (small icebergs) break from Greenland’s glaciers and fall into the ocean, they are carried by the current along the Alley. In late Spring and early summer, the icebergs appear along the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, to the delight of visitors and locals alike.
So you want to see where the icebergs are now? An iceberg monitoring service provides up-to-date information about where icebergs are in Newfoundland and Labrador. Visit www.icebergfinder.com/iceberg-map.aspx to see where icebergs are today.
March 23, 2007
A small pod of whales were seen breaching and playing in the water within view of On Ocean’s Edge properties this week. “I could see them from the rear windows of the homes”, reported Nolan Hall co-founder, Kevin Nolan, “It’s great to see them back again this year”.
Whales are frequent visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They are common sights in the water near On Ocean’s Edge during spring, summer and early fall. A number of whale species migrate to Newfoundland and Labrador every year including humpback, minke, fin, pothead, sperm and orca whales, as well as dolphins and porpoises.
For more information about Nolan Hall or On Ocean’s Edge fractional properties, please contact us.
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