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Central Labrador

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Central Labrador is the most populous region of Labrador, Canada, that extends from the shores of Lake Melville into the interior. It is also home to Happy Valley – Goose Bay, the largest community in Labrador.[1]

Geography

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It contains the Churchill River, the largest river in Labrador and one of the largest in Canada. The hydroelectric dam at Churchill Falls is the second largest underground power station in the world, but most of the supply is bought by Hydro-Québec under a long-term contract.[2][3] The Lower Churchill Project will develop the remaining potential of the river and supply it to provincial consumers.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Cities

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Known as "the heart of the Big Land", the area's population comprises people from all groups and regions of Labrador. Central Labrador is also home to Happy Valley – Goose Bay, the largest community in Labrador. Once a refueling point for plane convoys to Europe in World War II, CFB Goose Bay is now a NATO low-level tactical flight training site.[11][12][13][14] CFB Goose Bay saw a reduction of NATO low-level tactical flight training in the decade 1996–2005, and the town faced an uncertain future as the federal government reduced the number of permanent Royal Canadian Air Force personnel to fewer than 100 all-ranks. The last NATO nations to use CFB Goose Bay for flight training, Germany and Italy, did not renew their leases after terminating in early 2006.

The runway at Happy Valley-Goose Bay was also an alternative, but unused, landing site for the now-decommissioned NASA Space Shuttle, because of its size and length.

Transportation

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Central Labrador can be accessed by the highways 389 and 500 leading from Baie Comeau, Quebec into areas in West Labrador, such as Labrador City and Churchill Falls.

Air access is provided by Air Canada Jazz or Provincial Airlines from St. John's, Deer Lake, Halifax, or Montreal.

Central Labrador is connected by the Trans-Labrador Highway with Labrador City and Baie-Comeau in Quebec. The road was extended south to link with an existing road from the Blanc Sablon-St Barbe ferry. It opened in December 2009.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  2. ^ Feehan, James (2009). "The Churchill Falls Project: What Happened and What's to Come" (PDF). Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  3. ^ Churchill, Jason L. (1999). "Pragmatic Federalism: The Politics Behind the 1969 Churchill Falls Contract". Newfoundland and Labrador Studies. 15 (2). Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Shawn (18 November 2010). "Churchill hydro deal signals era of Atlantic co-operation – The Globe and Mail". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
  5. ^ Bailey, Sue (November 30, 2012). "Harper signs loan guarantee deal for Muskrat Falls despite Quebec's outcry". Global News. Retrieved Nov 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "Terms of Muskrat Falls federal loan guarantee released". CBC News. Dec 4, 2012. Retrieved Nov 29, 2020.
  7. ^ "Harper to announce Muskrat Falls deal in Labrador". CBC News. Nov 29, 2012. Retrieved Nov 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Harper 'reiterates support' for Muskrat Falls". CBC News. Sep 24, 2012. Retrieved Nov 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Announces Sanction of the Muskrat Falls Development". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. December 17, 2012. Retrieved Nov 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "$1.5B Maritime Link approved by Emera Inc". CBC News. Dec 18, 2012. Retrieved Nov 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "NATO's Invasion: Air Combat Training and its Impact on the Innu". culturalsurvival.org. December 1986.
  12. ^ "When Outrage Is A Scarce Commodity: Low-flying Maneuvers over Innu lands in Labrador". culturalsurvival.org. December 2000.
  13. ^ Gaudi, John (Dec 14, 2019). "New children's book is based on Innu protests of low-level flying in Labrador". CBC News.
  14. ^ Swardson, Anne (March 17, 1994). "Indians in Labrador Press for End to Low-Level Flight Training". Washington Post. Retrieved Nov 27, 2020.
  15. ^ "Home : Explore Labrador". Archived from the original on 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2012-08-09.