![Islands of the Bay of Exploits, Newfoundland](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Islands_of_the_Bay_of_Exploits%2C_Newfoundland.jpg)
The Bay of Exploits is a large bay in the northeast of
Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
. It extends from the mouth of the
Exploits River
The Exploits River is a river in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It flows through the Exploits Valley in the central part of Newfoundland.
Including the Lloyds River, which discharges in Beothuk Lake, the Exploits river has a ...
and opens on to
Notre Dame Bay
Notre Dame Bay is a large bay in Newfoundland, Canada. To the south it adjoins the Bay of Exploits.
The name, French for '' Our Lady Bay'', dates to at least 1550, and is possibly a French translation of an earlier Portuguese name.
Trump Island ...
to the north. It is approximately 1,000 square kilometers (386 sq. miles) in size and contains over 30 islands of which
New World Island
New World Island is an island in Notre Dame Bay, just off the coast of Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland in the Canada, Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The island is connected to Newfoundland by a causeway. The prominent communit ...
is the largest.
Description
The bay probably got its name from early successful encounters with the
Beothuk
The Beothuk ( or ; also spelled Beothuck) were a group of indigenous people who lived on the island of Newfoundland.
Beginning around AD 1500, the Beothuk culture formed. This appeared to be the most recent cultural manifestation of peoples w ...
Indians. The main towns are
Lewisporte
Lewisporte is a town in central Newfoundland, Canada, with a population of 3,288. It is situated in Burnt Bay which opens on to the Bay of Exploits. Lewisporte has a deep water port and related facilities that serve many communities in the r ...
,
Twillingate
Twillingate is a town of 2,121 people located on the Twillingate Islands ("Toulinquet") in Notre Dame Bay, off the north eastern shore of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The town is about north of ...
(on the
Twillingate Islands
Twillingate Islands (French language, French "Toulinguet") are a group of islands in Notre Dame Bay of the Island of Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. There are two main islands, North Twilli ...
in the bay) and
Botwood
Botwood is a town in north-central Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in Census Division 6. It is located on the west shore of the Bay of Exploits on a natural deep water harbour used by cargo ships and seaplanes throughout the town ...
. Salmon fishing and the fur trade were the main early industries.
The last of the Beothuk
The shores of the Bay of Exploits, the
Exploits River
The Exploits River is a river in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It flows through the Exploits Valley in the central part of Newfoundland.
Including the Lloyds River, which discharges in Beothuk Lake, the Exploits river has a ...
and
Red Indian Lake
Beothuk Lake, formerly Red Indian Lake, is located in the interior of central Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The lake drains into the Exploits River which flows through the interior of Newfoundland and exits into ...
at its head, were among the last known haunts of the
Beothuk
The Beothuk ( or ; also spelled Beothuck) were a group of indigenous people who lived on the island of Newfoundland.
Beginning around AD 1500, the Beothuk culture formed. This appeared to be the most recent cultural manifestation of peoples w ...
people who generally are thought to have become extinct with the death of
Shanawdithit
Shanawdithit (ca. 1801 – June 6, 1829), also noted as Shawnadithititis, Shawnawdithit, Nancy April and Nancy Shanawdithit, was the last known living member of the Beothuk people, who inhabited Newfoundland, Canada. Remembered for her contr ...
in June 1829, though
oral histories
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people wh ...
contend that a few may have survived for a while longer.
[Marshall (1996), pp. 224-228.]
Footnotes
References
* Anspach, Lewis Amadeus. (1819). ''A history of the island of Newfoundland: containing a description of the Island of Newfoundland: ....'' London.
* Marshall, Ingeborg (1996). ''A History and Ethnography of the Beothuk''. McGill-Queen's University Press. .
External links
Paddling in the Bay of Exploits
Bays of Newfoundland and Labrador
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