Red Bay, Labrador: Basque Whaling Station

Labrador seems like a long way from Basque country on the Iberian Peninsula. Yet way back in the 1500s, there was contact between the two cultures. Mariners from that region came across the Atlantic in search of whales. They found enough of them to start a settlement on the shores of Labrador - in this case, Red Bay.The whale oil was shipped back to Europe, and the workers set up settlements in Red Bay.

It all lasted 70 years, until Red Bay ran out of whales. Then everyone packed up and went home. But they left behind plenty of evidence of their stay, which eventually kept historians busy. They pieced the story together nicely, which is always a mystery to those now trained in the field. Now this is a UNESCO Heritage Site for offering such a good look at whaling practices in the 16th century. 

There's not a great deal to see here; many objects have been reburied in the cause of conservation. But the Visitor Center does a good job of explaining the story.