Burnt Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador

Burnt Islands
Town
Burnt Islands
Location of Burnt Islands in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°35′50.40″N 58°53′07.84″W / 47.5973333°N 58.8855111°W / 47.5973333; -58.8855111Coordinates: 47°35′50.40″N 58°53′07.84″W / 47.5973333°N 58.8855111°W / 47.5973333; -58.8855111
Country Canada
Province  Newfoundland and Labrador
Government
 • Mayor Paul Strickland
Population (2016)
 • Total 622
Time zone UTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)
Area code(s) 709
Website http://www.burntislandsnl.ca/
Colombier Islands Lighthouse
Colombier Islands Lighthouse
Newfoundland and Labrador
Location Burnt Islands
Newfoundland
Canada
Coordinates 47°35′30.9″N 58°53′50.5″W / 47.591917°N 58.897361°W / 47.591917; -58.897361
Year first constructed 1929 (fog alarm)
Year first lit 1971 (current tower)
Foundation concrete base
Construction aluminium skeletal tower
Tower shape quadrangular skeletal tower with balcony and lantern
Height 11 metres (36 ft)
Focal height 18 metres (59 ft)
Light source solar power
Range 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi)
Characteristic Fl W 5s.
Fog signal 1 blast every 30s.
Admiralty number H0238
CHS number CCG 156
NGA number 2436
ARLHS number CAN-837
Managing agent Canadian Coast Guard[1][2]

Burnt Islands is a small coastal community found in God Bay on the southwest coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

Geography

It is 27 kilometres east from Port-aux-Basques. This community consists of an "island" section and a "main" section that were connected by a causeway in 1969. The community is built on the rocky, barren coastline of the harbour. The countryside consists largely of bogs and marshes with many species of plant and animal life native to Newfoundland being present.

History

Burnt Islands, like many Newfoundland coastal communities, developed around the fishery. The sheltered harbour and proximity to rich fishing grounds were the principal factors in attracting early fishermen to this area between 1839 and 1841. The first recorded settlers settled on what is locally known as the "Main" in 1839, while families settled the "Island" in 1841.

Throughout the late 19th century and well into the 20th century the community continued to thrive with many business firms establishing in the area providing goods, services and employment for people in the area. The community supported a lumber and glue industry at one time.

In 1968 the first fish processing plant was started by Eric King fisheries, employing a large number of the towns residents and continuing to do so to the present day. Also it was in 1969 that the two main areas of settlement were linked together by a causeway, making it the community of Burnt Islands.

Climate

The climate for Burnt Islands is a maritime climate which consists of fairly cool weather in the summer and somewhat mild temperatures in the winter caused by the moderating effects of the nearby ocean. This area of the southwest coast is well known for its infamous winds that sometimes gust over 150 km per hour.

People

The population for Burnt Islands according to the 1996 census is 919, down over 100 from the 1991 census. This loss of population represents the collapse of the inshore fishery and the subsequent cod moratorium that came into effect in 1991, forcing many to leave the area in search of new economic opportunities.

Like many rural Newfoundland communities, the population of Burnt Islands is beginning to age. Many of the remaining residents are well into their senior years and those of the younger generation rely on outside sources for employment such as neighbouring communities or other parts of Canada. Burnt Islands had about 750 people living in it as of 2017

Transportation

The community is linked to the Trans Canada Highway by route 470 at Port aux Basques. From Port aux Basques, known as the Gateway to Newfoundland, Burnt Islands is linked by the Marine Atlantic ferries to Nova Scotia and mainland Canada.

The roads are worst kind down the coast going to Burnt Islands and on the way back out of it. Burnt Islands is usually pronounced "burrnawlns" when not in the presence of a mainlander.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Central and Western Newfoundland The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 12 February 2017
  2. ↑ List of Lights, Pub. 110: Greenland, The East Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. Except the East Coast of Florida) and the West Indies (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2016.


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