Geography of Newfoundland and Labrador - Physical Geography

Physical Geography

Newfoundland is roughly triangular, with each side being approximately 500 kilometers (310 mi), and having an area of 108,860 square kilometers (42,030 sq mi). Newfoundland and its associated small islands have a total area of 111,390 square kilometers (43,010 sq mi). Newfoundland extends between latitudes 46°36'N and 51°38'N.

Labrador is an irregular shape: the western part of its border with Quebec is the drainage divide for the Labrador Peninsula. Lands drained by rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean are part of Labrador, the rest belongs to Quebec. Labrador’s extreme northern tip, at 60°22'N, shares a short border with Nunavut. Labrador’s area (including associated small islands) is 294,330 square kilometers (113,640 sq mi). Together, Newfoundland and Labrador make up 4.06% of Canada’s area.

The island of Newfoundland is separated from Labrador by the Strait of Belle Isle, which is 125 kilometres (78 mi) long and from 60 to 15 kilometres (37 to 9.3 mi) wide. In addition to the island of Newfoundland, the province is made up of 12 larger islands with a total area of 2,505 square kilometres (967 sq mi) and 7,170 smaller islands with a total area of 3,598 square kilometres (1,389 sq mi).