Smokey Mountain Look Out
The Smokey Mountain look-out, which can be accessed off of Route 389 just before the College of the North Atlantic, offers a birds eye view of Labrador West. It is also a great place to view the area under biggest light show in Labrador – the Northern Lights.
First QNS&L Train
Located in the Wabush Industrial Park, the Quebec North Shore and Labrador (QNS&L) train is one of the first trains used by the Iron Ore Company of to haul iron ore.
Jean Lake Look Off
Jean Lake is one of the most picturesque areas in Labrador West. The view from the look-off, located XXX, is spectacular. Although each season offers its different beauty, it is best viewed in the fall when the colours of the changing leaves pop.
Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in Labrador West. It was constructed in Labrador City in 1962 and is made of local stone. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued a decree raising the Cathedral to Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It is the second Basilica in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and only the 21st for Canada. It is a building rich in local history and a must-see for history buffs.
Discover Fermont
Just 23 kilometres west of Labrador West is the mining town of Fermont. Fermont (French contraction of “Fer Mont”, meaning “Iron Mountain”) was founded as a company town in the early 1970s to exploit rich iron ore deposits from Mont Wright, that is about 25 kilometres (16 mi) to the west from the town site.
The town is notable for the huge self-contained structure containing apartments, stores, schools, bars, a hotel, restaurants, a supermarket and swimming pool which shelters a community of smaller apartment buildings and homes on its leeward side. The structure was designed to be a windscreen to the rest of the town. It permits residents (other than mine workers) to never leave the building during the long winter, which usually lasts about seven months. The town, designed by Maurice Desnoyers and Norbert Schoenauer, was inspired by similar projects in Sweden designed by Ralph Erskine, notably that of Svappavaara, an iron mining town in Sweden. The building measures 1.3 kilometres (4,300 ft) long and stands 50 metres (160 ft) high.
There, you can visit various water and beach activities at Daviault Lake Beach or stop off at Jean-Fortin Park to take a close-up look at a Caterpillar 789 mining production truck. Fermont is also near some beautiful hiking trails, including the four kilometre Taiga Trail, accessed just off Highway 389 at the Boulevard Jean-Claude Menard (kilometre 564). For a shorter hike, you can take in a half a kilometre Small Waterfalls Trail, located just minutes away from Fermont off Duhesneau Street. A little further on Duchesneau Street is also the Mont Daviault Trail, a 3.2 kilometre hike. There is also more advanced hiking areas located outside of Fermont at Severson Mountains, which offers seven trails, and the Groulx Mountains, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve Manicouagan-Uapishka site 200 kilometres south of Fermont.
Contact: Bureau d’information touristique de Fermont, 1-855-337-6662, email: tourisme@caniapiscau.net
Discover Churchill Falls
Churchill Falls is not merely the site of one of the great modern marvels of engineering and power production. It’s also home to a vibrant community. The men and women operating the generating station, as well as their families, live in the town, located approximately 240 kilometres east of Labrador City and 285 kilometres west of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The population is about 650.
The community revolves around the Donald Gordon Center, a unique town centre that features a school, hotel, restaurant, theatre, library, bank, grocery store and post office. Residents enjoy the modern living accommodations and recreational facilities on hand at the Center: an indoor swimming pool, arena, gymnasium, curling rink, ski-hill, cross-country ski trails, playground, baseball diamond, youth centre and community center are all available. There is also a hiking trail just outside of town, located off the highway toward Labrador West.
The Churchill Falls Generating Station is one of the largest underground hydroelectric powerhouses in the world, providing clean, renewable energy to millions of consumers throughout North America. Eleven turbines harness the power of the massive Churchill River, with a generating capacity of 5,428 megawatts.
For more information, or to book a tour, contact the Churchill Falls Town Office:
Telephone: (709) 925-3335 (8 a.m.- noon and 1 p.m – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday);
Email requests to: ChurchillFallsTours@nalcorenergy.com
