Quaerite Prime Regnum Dei (Latin) ("Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God") | |||||
Anthem | "The Flag of Newfoundland" | ||||
Capital (and largest city) |
St. John's | ||||
Other cities | Mount Pearl, Corner Brook, Torbay | ||||
Language | English, Irish | ||||
Religion main |
Catholicism | ||||
others | Protestantism | ||||
Demonym | Newfoundlander | ||||
Government | Unitary Parliamentary Republic | ||||
Established | 31 March 1944 | ||||
Independence | from Great Britain | ||||
Currency | Newfoundland pound |
Newfoundland (Irish: Talamh an Éisc, literally "Island of the Fish"), officially the Republic of Newfoundland (Irish: Poblacht an Talaimh an Éisc) is an insular sovereign country in Greater Canada. It consists of a large island and a few surrounding islets, at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence river, separated from Canada by the Strait of Belle Isle and from the Maritime Union by the Cabot Strait. It is an island dominated by thick forests, rolling hills and steep cliffs on the ocean's shores.
The modern history of Newfoundland began in the 17th century, when it was first discovered and settled by Europeans. After passing through French hands for a brief time, it later became part of the vast British colonial empire. Immediately after the Great War, when Great Britain capitulated, Newfoundland declared its independence along several other British colonies: the Concert of Europe forced the British government to recognize Newfoundlander independence, and so the island became a sovereign country.
Newfoundland is inhabited predominantly by people of British and Irish descent: for this reason, Irish Gaelic is widely spoken, and one of the official languages of the country. Newfoundland is the only place in the New World were a Celtic language is commonly heard, while it and Ireland are the only independent countries where it happens. Most of the population is Catholic, but there is a quite large Protestant minority as well. The economy of the island is based mostly on agriculture and fishing: other sectors of note are nickel mines and offshore oil extraction.