Burnt Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador

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

For other uses, see Burnt Island.
Burnt Islands
Town
Burnt Islands
Location of Burnt Islands in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°35′50.40″N 58°53′07.84″W
CountryCanada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Government
 • MayorPaul Strickland
Area
 • Land9.52 km2 (3.68 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total622
 • Density65.3/km2 (169/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)
Area code(s)709
Highways Route 470
Websitehttp://www.burntislandsnl.ca/
Burnt Islands aerial view
Colombier Islands Lighthouse
Colombier Islands Lighthouse
Newfoundland and Labrador
LocationBurnt Islands
Newfoundland
Canada
Coordinates47°35′30.9″N 58°53′50.5″W
Year first constructed1929 (fog alarm)
Year first lit1971 (current tower)
Foundationconcrete base
Constructionaluminium skeletal tower
Tower shapequadrangular skeletal tower with balcony and lantern
Tower height11 metres (36 ft)
Focal height18 metres (59 ft)
Light sourcesolar power
Range15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi)
CharacteristicFl W 5s.
Fog signal1 blast every 30s.
Admiralty numberH0238
CHS numberCCG 156
NGA number2436
ARLHS numberCAN-837
Managing agentCanadian Coast Guard[2][3]

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 aging. 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 622 people living in it as of the 2016 Census.[1]

Historical populations
Burnt Islands, NL
YearPop.±%
1996919—    
2001801−12.8%
2006703−12.2%
2011651−7.4%
2016622−4.5%
[4][1]

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.

See also

References
  1. "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Burnt Islands, Town [Census subdivision], Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  2. Central and Western Newfoundland The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 12 February 2017
  3. 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.
  4. "2006 Community Profiles: Burnt Islands, NL". Statistics Canada. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
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