Exploits Valley facts for kids
The Exploits Valley is a beautiful valley in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is in Canada. It's located in the middle part of the island of Newfoundland. This valley is known for its natural beauty and its interesting history.
Nature's Wonders in Exploits Valley
The Exploits Valley was shaped by glaciation, which means huge sheets of ice carved out the land long ago. The Exploits River flows through the valley, heading east. Low hills frame the river, rising from the high plateau in the center of the island.
The lower part of the valley is home to a thick forest, mostly made up of evergreen trees. You can find large animals here like woodland caribou, moose, and black bears. Many smaller animals and birds also live in this area.
People and History in Exploits Valley
People have lived in the Exploits Valley for thousands of years. The Beothuk Nation used to live here. They had fishing camps along the river banks in the summer. In winter, they moved to hunting camps at the upper end of the valley, near Red Indian Lake. The river was like a highway for them, helping them travel as they fished near the Bay of Exploits in the summer.
European settlers first came to the coastal areas around the Bay of Exploits and Notre Dame Bay. A well-known fishing town was Twillingate. It's on two nearby islands at the eastern edge of Notre Dame Bay. Its safe harbor and good location made it an important fishing spot for over 200 years. This lasted until fishing for northern cod was stopped in 1992. In the 1700s, Twillingate was called the "Capital of the North." It was a main trading center for the Labrador fisheries.
The Newfoundland Railway was built across the river at Bishop's Falls in the early 1890s. This was the start of industrial growth in the valley.
The river was dammed to create hydroelectric power. This happened at old waterfalls in Grand Falls and Bishop's Falls. This electricity powered local towns and a big pulp and paper mill in Grand Falls in the early 1900s.
The river can be used by boats below Bishop's Falls. The pulp and paper mill built a seaport on the lower part of the river at Botwood. An industrial railway connected Botwood to Grand Falls.
An important ore deposit was found in the upper Exploits Valley, in the town of Buchans. This led to large mines and another industrial railway line. This line connected to the Newfoundland Railway west of Grand Falls.
In the mid-1960s, the Trans-Canada Highway project built Route 1 through the lower part of the valley. This section runs between Bishop's Falls and Badger.
In February 2003, a large flood happened on the Exploits River. It was caused by ice blocking the river. This flood made it necessary to evacuate the town of Badger.
