Canada is brimming with surprises. From breathtaking cities to uncommon monuments, you may never be expecting what you will stumble upon on your next holiday, mainly if you project to Bell Island. This mesmerizing destination, positioned in Newfoundland and Labrador, is steeped in mystery and history, frequently described as a region of "first-rate geological formations."
Bell Island is a distinguished feature at the Conception Bay horizon, growing over 100 toes, with cathedral-like cliffs sculpted into curtain-like folds. The island's flat-crowned sandstone is scattered with large marine deposits on either aspect, making it an anomaly inside the Avalon region, which is predominantly composed of granite and shale.
Map of Bell Island
| Name | Bell Island |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Coordinates | 47°37′58″N 52°57′57″W |
| Area | 34 km2 (13 sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-03:30 |
| Population | 2,079 |
| Airport | Bell Island Airport |
History of Bell Island
Bell Island was first observed by French navigator Jacques Cartier in 1534, even as exploring the Northwest Passage to the East. His sailing ship, stuck in a typhoon off the coast of Newfoundland, inadvertently sailed via the Bell Island Strait into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Realizing the slim banks signified a strait, Cartier named it after the island at its front, "Belle Isle" (that means Beautiful Island in French).
Bell Island became the only region in North America at once attacked by using the German Navy during World War II. These assaults had been encouraged by way of the island's wealthy natural resources. At that time, it became home to one of the world's biggest iron ore deposits, which was crucial for metallic production. Before the conflict, Germany had indeed become one of the biggest consumers of this ore. Subsequently, Bell Island have become a chief supplier for the Allies.
On the night of September 4, 1942, the German submarine U-153, commanded via Lieutenant Rolf Rüggeberg, entered Conception Bay. He torpedoed and sank two Canadian merchant ships, resulting in the loss of 29 out of 48 crew members.
With the decline of Newfoundland's fisheries, the significance of the Bell Island Strait also waned. Additionally, the Cabot Strait, with its decreased latitude, offered better navigability, mainly because the Bell Island Strait fell into obscurity. However, the 11th-century Viking agreement remains in Meadows Bay at the southern shore, attesting to Europe's early presence in North America.
Bell Island Lighthouse
This lighthouse now not only serves as a navigational aid for seafarers but also stands as an outstanding landmark of Bell Island. It presents a tranquil haven for tourists, supplying breathtaking perspectives of the sea and the encircling herbal beauty.
Standing on the pinnacle of the lighthouse, one can behold the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, experiencing the grandeur and electricity of nature.
Events on Bell Island
Bell Island hosts several events yearly, all taking region in the summer. The Bell Festival is a multi-day cultural birthday celebration that provides neighborhood singers, accordion gamers, and different musicians who are acting conventional Newfoundland tunes alongside level performances and historical programs.
A smaller-scale, multi-day event is "Town Square Days" in Wabana Town Square, which provides food and drink stalls and tune and dancing.
Additionally, in early June every 12 months, the museum holds a candlelight memorial provider to honor the fallen miners.
The Haunted Island
Bell Island has long been famed because of the "Haunted Island," which has various folklore and supernatural beings and phenomena. During the mining era, the community changed into domestic to human beings from multiple cultural backgrounds, blending numerous folks' stories. The local network firmly believes in the island's supernatural occurrences, and the nearby tourism board capitalizes on this, promoting Bell Island as "North America's most haunted island." In the summer, prepared to take walk tours on Friday and Saturday nights, lead site visitors via several ghost tales and characteristic staged performances in the mines.
The most famous legend is that of the Bell Island Witch, an evil lady determined to wander the island's swamps and farmlands, particularly close to Dobbin's Garden, dressed in white. As she tactics her sufferers, she transforms right into a terrifying creature clad in grey rags, shifting on all fours and exuding a dreadful smell of sulfur. There are numerous tales about the witch's origins, with the most popular being that she became a lady murdered by the Germans.
According to local folklore, Butler's Marsh, close to the West Mines, is also home to fairies. These fairies trap sufferers into the marsh, where they're by no means seen again. For misbehaving youngsters, the fairies serve as a deterrent. Additionally, the ghosts of deceased miners are said to hang out in the underground tunnels, mainly those of Mine No.4.
