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Newfoundland
& Labrador is located in eastern North America, and
borders Quebec (west). The Province is made up of two parts; Newfoundland,
the island (nicknamed the Rock), and Labrador, which is located
on the mainland. St. John’s, the capital city, is also one of the
oldest settlements in North America. Vikings from Iceland and Greenland
briefly settled around 1000 AD. However the island was not rediscovered
until 1497 when the famous Italian explorer John Cabot sighted a
“new found isle” in the North Atlantic. Early settlement was difficult
due to rough terrain, fishing disputes and land disputes. By the
early 1990s overfishing depleted what was one of the world's richest
fisheries for 500 years. Energy and mining projects along Canada's
Atlantic coast provide hope for economic growth, including pumping
oil from the Hibernia oil field.
Population
& Geography
Total
Area: 405,212 sq km / 156,453 sq mi1
Population:
506,300 (2007)1
Capital
City: St. John's
Largest
Metro Areas: St. John's: 183,500 (2007)1
Economy
GDP:
$22.580 USD (2006)1
GDP
per capita: $44,598
USD (2006)1
Unemployment
Rate: 13.6% (2007)1
Government
Premier:
Danny Williams (PC) (2007)2
Legislative
Assembly: 44 Progressive Conservatives (including Premier),
3 Liberals, 1 New Democrats (2007)2
Other Information
Federal Representation:
4 Liberals, 3 Conservatives (2007)3
Origin
of Name: John Cabot first used the term "new founde
isle" in 1497. The name Labrador is likely from the Portuguese word
"lavrador" or small landholder, and is attributable
to João Fernades, a Portuguese explorer.4
If Newfoundland & Labrador were to become the 51st state today...
Area
Rank: 4th
biggest State (bigger than Montana, smaller than California).5
Population
Rank: 51st
most populous State (smaller than Wyoming, smallest in the Union).5
GDP
Rank: 53rd biggest economy in US (bigger than Guam, smaller
than Vermont).6
Congressmen:
1 House Representative and 2 Senators.
Electoral
Votes:
3
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