Red Bay Basque Whaling Station - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Place: Red Bay Basque Whaling Station, Labrador

Weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine 50/66F.

Route: From L'anse aux Meadows 262km on NL-430 S, ferry from St Barbe to Blanc Slabon, Trans-Labrador Hwy/NL-510 S.

Significance: The Vikings weren't the only seafaring culture that may have crossed the Atlantic Ocean before Columbus. The Basques were the people of southern France and northern Spain who were heavily involved in the whaling industry.  In Europe whales had many uses, most commonly their oil was used to light lamps.  The Basques looked far and wide for new sources of whales. Some claim that they may have come to the new world as early as the late 14th century - 100 years before Columbus - but the available evidence shows it was likely around 1530 when the first Basque ship entered the straight of Belle Isle, which separates Newfoundland and Labrador.  Basques would travel to Red Bay every summer for approximately 70 years until the whale stocks apparently dwindled.

Websites: UNESCO World Heritage Site, Parks Canada.

Image:

Red Bay (from newfoundlandlabrador.com)