The province contains two natural regions: the Appalachian Region and the Canadian Shield. All of the island of Newfoundland and a small part of southeastern Labrador belong to the Appalachian Region. In Newfoundland the Appalachian Region consists mainly of a large plateau. This natural region can be subdivided into three smaller regions: the Newfoundland Highlands, the Atlantic Upland, and the Central Lowland of Newfoundland.

The Newfoundland Highlands make up most of the western part of the island. This region is the edge of the plateau, which rises abruptly on the west and slopes gently toward the east. Elevations in this area reach a height of 814 m (2,671 ft) in the Lewis Hills in the southwest. This region is also sometimes called the Long Range Mountains.

The Atlantic Upland forms most of the south and east of the island. This region is mostly a flat or rolling plateau with an average elevation of about 300 m (about 1,000 ft). There are some rugged hilly sections in the southeast on the Avalon Peninsula. Bogs and small lakes are very numerous in this region.

The Central Lowland of Newfoundland occupies the north central part of the island. Most of this region also is flat or gently rolling, with almost all elevations less than 150 m (500 ft).

The Canadian Shield covers all of Labrador except for its southeastern corner. The region is mostly a vast plateau made up of ancient, hard rock. Elevations range from 450 to 600 m (1,500 to 2,000 ft) in the interior, but the edge of the plateau along the coast is more rugged, with slightly higher elevations. The Torngat Mountains in extreme northern Labrador rise to 1,652 m (5,420 ft) atop of Mount Cambric.

Both Labrador and Newfoundland have many rivers and lakes. The Churchill River is the province’s longest river. It rises in western Labrador and flows eastward for 335 km (208 mi) before emptying into Lake Melville. On this river is Churchill Falls, with a vertical drop of 75 m (245 ft). It is one of the greatest sources of hydroelectric power in North America. Other large rivers in Labrador are the Naskaupi, the Eagle, and the Romaine.

On Newfoundland the Exploits River is the island’s longest waterway. It begins in southwestern Newfoundland and flows for 240 km (150 mi) to empty into the Bay of Exploits in the north. The second longest river on the island is the Gander River, which flows in a northeasterly direction.

The largest natural lake in the province is Lake Melville in eastern Labrador, a slightly brackish, or salty, lake with an area of 3,069 sq km (1,185 sq mi). Lake Melville is really a 140-km (87-mi) extension of Hamilton Inlets and is connected with the ocean by a narrow inlet. Smallwood Reservoir in western Labrador was created by the dams of Churchill River and is the largest body of freshwater in the province, with an area of 6,527 sq km (2,520 sq mi). Grand Lake, Red Indian Lake, and Gander Lake are the largest lakes on the island of Newfoundland.

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