The island of Newfoundland is located off the coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the largest island in the province, and the 15th largest in the world. Newfoundland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, and is separated from the mainland of Canada by the Cabot Strait. The island is roughly triangular in shape, with a coastline of about 9,656 kilometers (6,000 miles). The highest point on Newfoundland is the Long Range Mountains, which reach a height of 814 meters (2,671 feet) at Gros Morne.
Newfoundland has a long history of human settlement, dating back to the Paleo-Eskimo period. The island was first explored by European fishermen in the 15th century, and was later settled by French and British colonists in the 16th and 17th centuries. Newfoundland became part of Canada in 1949.