Fogo Island | Beautiful Islands in Canada

Fogo Island, the largest of Newfoundland's offshore islands, is separated from the mainland by Hamilton Sound. The island is about 25 km long and 14 km wide and has a total area of 235 sq km. Originally used by the First Nations Beothuks as a summer campground, it was taken over by Europeans in the early 16th century and given the name Fogo from the Portuguese word Fuego for fire, after the Beothuks's campfires.

Until the late 18th century Fogo Island was on an area off the coast called the 'French Shore'. However the British and the Irish came to settle here, thus ignoring various treaty obligations, and by the end of the century it had become a thriving hub for the British North Atlantic fleet. Evidence of this can be found today in the names, accents and culture of the local population. Fogo's location has long made the island a center for transatlantic communications, with Marconi setting up a wireless  station in the early 20th century.

This is an island where everything points to the sea. Red and white buildings line its craggy shoreline, while behind them muddy green pasture tells the story of the island's harsh environment, where the growing season lasts only a few months of the year. Fogo also boasts an extensive system of boardwalk trails making its North Atlantic wilderness accessible to all.

In the 1960s the islanders turned down the chance to be resettled on mainland Canada and they chose instead to preserve their unique cultural identity. Fishing still plays a central role in the islanders' day-to-day lives, but it is tourism that is increasing in importance to the area. There are now many operators offering guided nature tours to watch whales and the island's rich and varied bird life