Bell Island (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Bell Island

Aerial view of Bell Island
Bell Island Location of Bell Island in Newfoundland
Geography
Location	Conception Bay, Newfoundland
Coordinates	47°37′58″N 52°57′57″W / 47.63278°N 52.96583°W / 47.63278; -52.96583
Area	34 km2 (13 sq mi)
Coastline	27 km (16.8 mi)
Highest elevation	148 m (486 ft)
Administration
Canada
Province	Newfoundland and Labrador
Demographics
Population	2,079 (2021)[1][2]
Bell Island Lighthouse
Constructed	1966
Construction	wooden tower
Height	9 m (30 ft)
Shape	quadrangular tower atop a 1-storey fog signal building[3][4]
Markings	white tower, grey metallic lantern
Operator	Canadian Coast Guard
Focal height	53 m (174 ft)
Range	17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 6s

Bell Island is an island that is part of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's easternmost province. With an area of 34 square kilometres (13 sq mi), it is by far the largest island in Conception Bay, a large bay in the southeast of the island of Newfoundland. The provincial capital of St. John's is less than 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the east.

The coastline of Bell Island consists almost entirely of cliffs that tower up to 45 metres (148 ft) above the surf and also has several special rock formations. The island is home to four settlements with a total of over 2,000 inhabitants. The vast majority of them live in the main settlement of Wabana,^[5] which can be reached from Newfoundland via a ferry connection to Portugal Cove.^[6][7] To the south are the hamlets of Lance Cove, Bickfordville and Freshwater.

From 1895 to 1966, large-scale iron ore mining took place on Bell Island. As a result, the relatively small island acquired great international economic importance as it quickly grew into one of the most important iron ore producers in the world. In addition, the ore mined in the mines of Bell Island was very important to the Allied war industry during World War II, which led to Nazi Germany attacking twice. At its peak, more than 12,000 people lived there.

Since the end of mining, the population has fallen dramatically and there has been a severe economic downturn. Due to the few remaining jobs, the majority of residents now commute daily via ferry to the St. John's Metropolitan Area. In recent years, the local economy has turned to tourism to a significant extent, with the natural beauty, mining history and shipwrecks being the main draws.