travel / great places / cg traveller
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Newfoundland's Giants of the Deep
The open sky, rejuvenating salt air and bounding main are all
part of the universal appeal of a day on the ocean. Add the 10-metre-high
blow of a nearby sperm whale or the antics of a breaching humpback
and you've got all you need for a memorable open-water adventure.
At the top of any whale watcher's to-do list is a trip to
Newfoundland. Along the coast of this rugged island, thousands of
the world's great whales spend the spring and summer feeding
in the rich marine environment. Visitors can observe these massive
marine mammals from land, a tour boat or the intimacy of a sea kayak.
Check the links below for more information on Newfoundland — the
island home of the giants of the deep.
www.mi.mun.ca/mi-net/fishdeve/cetacean.htm
The Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador
hosts a Cetaceans of Canada web site that is one of the richest sources
of Canadian information on whales, dolphins and porpoises. This the place
to start for basic cetacean biology, both physical and behavioural, plus
a checklist of key species. There is lots of information here and it is
presented in a straightforward and accessible way. This site is the site
to browse if want to heighten your appreciation of these amazing creatures.
www.gov.nf.ca/tourism
The Government of Newfoundland & Labrador's Tourism web site
gives an informative overview about exploring the province. Newfoundland
& Labrador covers a lot of territory and so the information in the
site is organized by region, rather than subject alone. The Avalon, Eastern
and Western regions on the island map, which are found under "Attractions
& Adventures," provide dates and contact information for when
to see whales.
The site's general information about Newfoundland & Labrador
is a delightful reminder of the unique life and culture of Atlantic Canada.
Two useful features for do-it-yourself travellers are the "Getting
Here" and "Getting Around" functions, which are complete
with transportation schedules and maps. The "Getting Here" link
also has a useful summary of vacation packages for specialty wildlife
watching and adventure tours.
www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/
The Department of Education of Newfoundland & Labrador provides a
backgrounder for people seeking basic knowledge of the whales of the Atlantic
coast. It's straightforward and you can't go wrong.
www.acsonline.org/
The American Cetacean Society (ACS) maintains an online presence loaded
with information on whale and dolphin conservation, education and research.
In its online library, the ACS has a number of fact sheets jam-packed
with pertinent info on many of the 20+ major whale species that visit
the Newfoundland & Labrador coast, including pilot, fin, sperm and
humpback.
www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/canada/canada.html
The Department of Physical Sciences at the University of Helsinki (of
all places!) has one of the most succinct and valuable web sites for finding
quality tour operators in Newfoundland, more than a dozen in all. Each
of the choices specializes in on-the-water observation of whales, birds
and Newfoundland's famous icebergs.
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