7) Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
This natural wonder is a delightful place any time of the year. The island was familiar to Native American populations long before it attracted the interest of European voyagers, who were keen to take advantage of the then plentiful prospects for seal hunting and fishing. Trade in furs, salmon, and particularly cod, made the island a hive of industry, and attracted settlers and their families. The name, itself, comes from the Portuguese, fogo, which translated means fire. There are a number of theories that try to explain why the island was given the name, Isle of Fire, but none seem to have been verified. Early maps of the area, such as the Bertius map circa 1606, include the island by name, so it has been a significant part of the history of Newfoundland for hundreds of years. The island’s isolated, dramatic landscape and volcanic rock shores will leave you marveling as you stare across the Atlantic.
