St Anthony NL

St. Anthony sits on the northern coast of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula and is usually a port of call for cruises exploring Atlantic Canada and the North Atlantic. The town's position near the northern tip of the peninsula makes it a useful base for exploring the area's wildlife, coastal scenery and remarkable Viking history.

The sea has shaped St. Anthony for centuries. French and Basque fishermen used the area as a seasonal camp before Jacques Cartier gave the place its name in 1534. Fishing was later followed by whaling, while tourism now plays an important role in the local economy.

The town is closely associated with Dr. Wilfred Grenfell, a medical missionary who arrived in the region in the late 19th century. He established hospitals, schools and cooperatives across Newfoundland and Labrador, providing services to communities that were difficult to reach. The Grenfell Historic Properties in St. Anthony help tell the story of his work and its impact on the region.

Wildlife is one of the main reasons to explore the coast around St. Anthony. Whale watching is particularly popular, with humpback whales among the species that can be seen in the surrounding waters. Atlantic white beaked dolphins and a variety of seabirds can also be spotted, including northern gannets, kittiwakes, Arctic terns and black guillemots.

The wider peninsula is also home to moose and other wildlife. Depending on the season, icebergs drifting south along the Newfoundland coast can add another striking feature to the seascape, while polar bear sightings are possible in spring.

One of the most important attractions is L'Anse aux Meadows, about 40 kilometers from St. Anthony. The archaeological site preserves the remains of a Norse settlement dating from around AD 1000. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1968 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

For cruise passengers interested in Viking history, the site provides a rare opportunity to see where Norse settlers established a community in North America roughly five centuries before Columbus's voyages.