Gros Morne National Park

• Official Name: Gros Morne National Park
• Location: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
• Type: Natural
• Year of Inscription: 1987

Gros Morne National Park is a natural area in the Newfoundland and Labrador province of Canada that includes some of the best, most readily visible examples of plate tectonics anywhere in the world. Visitors to the area can see evidence of when Earth’s tectonic plates shifted and displaced the bottom of the ocean’s crust and floor sediments thousands of years ago, revising North America’s margin. The park is located on the island of Newfoundland off Canada’s eastern coast.

In addition to easy access to view this living example of the Earth’s formative stages, Gros Morne provides excellent examples of glaciations, or the processes by which glaciers were formed and, in turn, transformed Earth’s surface. The area also boasts beautiful scenic areas, including fjords, waterfalls, mountains, and other areas of interest, such as a variety of rocks from oceanic to volcanic, along with plentiful deposits of fossils.

The natural beauty of the 697 square mile (about 1,805 sq km) Gros Morne area—described as a place where visitors can see Earth’s mantle naked—along with its value for geological study led to it becoming a national park reserve in 1973. In 1987, it was added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site list for its geologic and glacial historical value. In 2005, the area was added to the list of Canadian National Parks. In addition to attracting outdoor enthusiasts and those interested in geological study, the park, which is the second-largest Atlantic Canadian park, hosts a variety of historic and musical festivals.

History

Gros Morne National Park takes its name from the Gros Morne Mountain peak. At 2,644 feet (806 m) tall, the rounded peak is the second-tallest portion of the Long Range Mountains. This mountain range runs along Bonne Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador. Gros morne means “big isolated hill” in French. It evokes the lonesome, isolated appearance of the mountain.

Although the mountain is often draped in snow, it was once located very near the equator. Evidence of this shift can be seen in rock strata, or layers, of limestone and shale, bearing indicators that it was once part of a shallow tropical ocean or sea. Visible in the Green Point section of Gros Morne is part of the boundary between the ancient geological periods known as the Cambrian and Ordovician eras. These eras were associated with high levels of marine life, much of which would not have survived in the colder waters where Gros Morne is located in modern times.

The area of the park known as the Tablelands contains evidence of this time of tectonic plate shifting. According to geologists, in Earth’s ancient past, what is now North America collided with a piece of another continent called Gondwanaland. This formed the Appalachian Mountains, which run up the eastern side of North America from Alabama into Canada, including the Long Range Mountains. These two supercontinents gradually split apart again, and the area became a body of water known as the Iapetus Ocean. Eventually, the continents collided a second time, forcing part of the Earth’s mantle to the surface. A planet’s mantle is part of its inner layer that comes between its molten core and its outer crust. Eventually, the continents broke apart again, and the area off the coast of North America filled with the Atlantic Ocean. However, the exposed area of Earth’s mantle remained visible at the Tablelands, making it one of the few places on the planet where it can be observed.

Due to the nature of its composition, the Tablelands are relatively barren and have limited vegetation, especially in comparison with other nearby areas. This is because it is composed of a large amount of peridotite, a rock that contains high levels of iron and other metals. The presence of iron allows the surface of the Tablelands to rust, earning it the nickname the Bronze Plateau. This is essentially what the surface of the Earth would look like if the crust—the outer layer of rock, dirt, plant life, and water—was scraped away. Gros Morne is one of the few places on Earth where it can be seen.

Gros Morne became a national park and rose to UNESCO World Heritage Site status due in large part to the efforts of Newfoundland geologist Harold Williams (1934–2010). He helped confirm the theory that some of Earth’s features were formed by large land masses colliding and moving apart. Williams spent a large part of his career studying the Appalachian Mountains and Gros Morne. He realized the significance of the visible mantle and how that helps illustrate the effects of continental collisions and plate tectonics on Earth’s geology and geography.

In addition to the effects of moving land masses, Gros Morne was also shaped by the movement of glaciers. The weight of these huge frozen masses compressed the crust and mantle beneath them. When they moved off or melted, the land beneath slowly lifted back up. Water often filled the areas vacated by the glaciers. Gros Morne shows evidence of this type of glacial activity, along with extensive areas of boreal forest with deciduous trees and conifers.

The region bears signs of habitation dating back to at least 2500 Before the Common Era (BCE), when ancient seafaring people hunted and fished in the area. Europeans first arrived beginning in the early 1500s. French explorer Jacques Cartier (1491–1557) was the first European to map and describe the nearby St. Lawrence Gulf and River. European settlers moved into the area, which had become known as Canada, several hundred years later.

In 1973, the area was designated as a national park reserve, or an area that is set aside to protect the landscape, plant and animal life, and other natural resources it contains. Reserves are not under the control of the national government but are instead run by the lodges within them. In 1987, Gros Morne was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Finally, in 2005, it was added to the list of Canadian National Parks, putting its operation under the authority of the Canadian government.

Significance

Gros Morne is one of fewer than a handful of places on Earth where the mantle deep beneath the surface is visible. This allows visitors to see some of the oldest rocks on the planet while remaining on its surface. In addition to providing a literal peek into Earth’s ancient past, the Tablelands at Gros Morne also allows scientists to study certain aspects of how the solar system and other planets may have been formed.

The World Heritage Site area is sufficient in size to allow scientists to study the impact of plate tectonics and their effects on plant and animal life in the distant past. The colliding plates, glacial action, and other natural movements that took place within the confines of Gros Morne allow for the study of several geological time periods. The rock layers and fossils they contain are rich sources of information about these geological eras and the role they played in the formation of Earth.

The remoteness of the area combined with the level of oversight to which it is subject provides great protection to these natural resources. While they are subject to the usual forces of nature, such as storms and weather erosion, the number of visitors, researchers, and samples that can be removed are all carefully controlled, preserving the integrity of the area for future generations. One potential problem area is a growing moose population, introduced a century ago, that has had a negative effect on the forestland in Gros Morne. Conservationists and animal experts continue to work to mitigate this problem. Steps are also taken to protect the national park from disruption by a nearby highway corridor as well as a hydroelectric power transmission corridor.

Each addition to the UNESCO World Heritage list must meet at least one of ten special criteria. Gros Morne was included on the basis of meeting two of these criteria. The first is its significance in terms of natural beauty. In addition to the geologically important structures such as the Tablelands, the park is full of beautiful areas such as the freshwater fjords formed by moving glaciers and boreal forestland. The second criteria relates to the geological significance the park plays in helping scientists study and understand the effects of movement and plate tectonics in the formation of Earth’s surface. The unique geological features on display at Gros Morne make it of international significance and worldwide importance.

Bibliography

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“Explore Gros Morne National Park.” Gros Morne, www.grosmorne.com. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Finkelstein, Maxwell W. “Gros Morne National Park.” Canadian Encyclopedia, 22 Mar. 2015, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/gros-morne-national-park. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

“Gros Morne National Park.” Parks Canada, 19 Nov. 2022, www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/nl/grosmorne/info. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

“Gros Morne National Park.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre, whc.unesco.org/en/list/419. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

“Gros Morne National Park of Canada.” Parks Canada History, parkscanadahistory.com/publications/fact-sheets/eng/grosmorne.pdf. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Minty, Dennis. “Gros Morne National Park: Where the Earth Tells Its Story.” Mindful Explorer, 18 Aug. 2021, www.adventurecanada.com/newfoundland-and-labrador/gros-morne-national-park-where-the-earth-tells-its-story. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

“Welcome to Gros Morne National Park.” Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism, www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/top-destinations/gros-morne. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.