Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Labrador is a territory within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. It occupies a fraction of the surface area of the Province, and contains a small fraction of its population.
Labrador may be divided into three parts:
Coastal fishing towns which benefit from centuries of isolation to produce a population that is used to living in isolation. People go between these towns by boat, when the harbours aren't frozen (which is to say, six months a year). Even then, they still have to dodge icebergs.
Inland towns which were entirely built since 1941. Their inhabitants lack the benefit of centuries of isolation, and produce a population with a tendency to either leave town. People go between these towns via the Trans-Labrador Highway, when it's not snowed under (which is to say, six months a year).
Forest - the inhabitants here are entirely migratory, and almost entirely four-legged.
Each town in Labrador focuses on one industry, be it fishing, military, mining, or hydroelectric. During the winter, travel tends to be by aeroplane only.
Labrador is largely a political colony of Newfoundland, and an economic colony of Quebec (which established the mining and hydroelectric industries). Labrador residents, like people everywhere, grumble about their politicians and 'higher-ups'. Labradorians are very independent-minded, and hate being called 'Newfoundlanders' or 'Newfies'.