Red Bay is a fishing village in Labrador, known as an important underwater area where archaeologists study history in the Americas. From 1530 to the early 1600s, it was a key location for whaling by the Basque people. Many whaling ships, including large galleons and small chalupas, sank there. Because of these discoveries, Red Bay became a National Historic Site in 1979 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

Etymology

The name "Red Bay" comes from the name given to the bay by French fishermen in the 17th century, which means "Red Bay" in French. The Basque people called the place Butus or Buitures, names that mean "Vultures" in their language.

Geography

Red Bay is a natural harbor located in a bay named after the red granite cliffs in the area. The name Red Bay comes from these red granite cliffs. During World War II, the protected harbor was used as a place to tie naval ships. Penney Island and Saddle Island are located in the bay. These islands were used by the Basques for whaling. The wreck of the ship San Juan is near Saddle Island.

History

The coast of Labrador has been home to people for about 9,000 years. The Maritime Archaic peoples and the Paleo-Inuit hunted seals and walrus and fished for salmon. From around 1550 to the early 1600s, Red Bay, also called Balea Baya (Whale Bay), was an important place for whaling by people from southern France and northern Spain. These sailors sent 15 ships and 600 men each season to the remote area near the Strait of Belle Isle to hunt right whales and bowhead whales, according to Memorial University of Newfoundland.

In 1565, the ship San Juan sank during a whaling trip to Labrador. Research by Selma Barkham in Spanish records suggested that San Juan was lost in Red Bay and another ship, La Madalena, sank in Chateau Bay in the same year. By 1974, Barkham was working with archaeologists from Parks Canada.

A cemetery on nearby Saddle Island holds the remains of 140 whalers. Many of those buried there are believed to have died from drowning or being exposed to cold weather.

Local stories say there is a hidden treasure buried in a body of water called Pond on the Hill, located at 51°43′43″N 56°26′56″W (or 51.72861°N 56.44889°W) at the foot of Tracey Hill, near the infamous pirate Captain William Kidd. People from Carrol Cove tried to find the treasure by draining the pond, but the attempt did not succeed.

Red Bay has been named a National Historic Site of Canada since 1979 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

In 2016, Google Street View added images of Red Bay. Red Bay is one of the few places in Labrador with images on the service.

In 2021, the local school, Basque Memorial School, closed because there were no students.

Demographics

According to the 2021 Census of Population done by Statistics Canada, Red Bay had a population of 142 people living in 65 of its 69 total private homes. This was a decrease of 16% compared to its 2016 population of 169. The area of Red Bay is 2.31 square kilometers (0.89 square miles), and in 2021, it had a population density of 61.5 people per square kilometer (159.2 people per square mile).

Tourist attractions

• Basque whaling sites
• Iceberg and whale watching
• Hiking
• Local entertainment and food
• Fishing
• The Whaler's Restaurant (fish and chips and similar dishes)