Cartwright - Newfoundland and Labrador

Route 510

The community of Cartwright, established in 1775, was named after Captain George Cartwright. He was an English merchant and adventurer who established a fish and fur trading business. The settlement of Cartwright provided him with an excellent sheltered harbour and Flag Staff Hill gave him a lookout point from which he could look for privateers. He erected two canons there, both of which still rest there today.

The business first established by Cartwright was sold to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1837 and this business still operates in Cartwright today. The Mealy Mountains, site of a proposed future national park, can be seen from the community. Ten miles to the north is a 56km stretch of golden sand, so striking the Vikings called it the "Wonderstrands".

To the east, lies the Atlantic Ocean and the Gannet Islands Seabird Ecological Reserve - the largest razorbill colony in North America, home to 50,000 common murres, 35,000 puffins and 8,000 other birds.

Eighteen miles to the east of the community lies Table Bay which is home to the largest colony for breeding eiders in Labrador. Cartwright and the surrounding area is a kayakers paradise, offering a combination of spectacular landscape and fascinating history.