Whale watching has become a popular tourist activity in Newfoundland in recent years. While not everyone is lucky enough to see these majestic animals jump out of the water, you can usually see their tails sticking up as they dive. Whale tails are actually called “flukes” and are used to propel the animal forward in the water. The size, shape, and coloring of flukes vary and can be used to identify individual animals, like a fingerprint.

Oil lanterns like this one were used by many outport Newfoundlanders for a long time while they waited for “rural electrification” to be complete. Newfoundland’s population was distributed over a large area and therefore running power lines from hydro stations was very difficult and costly. It was not until the early 1970’s that everyone on the island had access to
electricity; until then, they had lanterns to light the way.

The traditional Newfoundland stage was an important place in a fisherman’s life – a place of shelter, to process the harvest from the sea; a place to share stories and tales while working; and a place to pass on skills to the next generation of fishermen.

The Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) is a type of iris that is native to Eastern Canada. The flowers are usually light to deep blue in color, but as the name versicolor suggests, colors can vary and even appear as purple or violet. In Newfoundland one can often find these beautiful wildflowers when hiking along marshes, streambanks, or shores.

Chosen as the provincial floral emblem of Newfoundland in 1954, the pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) thrives in poor soil and is symbolic of the true Newfoundland spirit – emanating beauty and strength in the face of adverse conditions.