'Rigolet' (population 350) is a remote, coastal
Labrador Inuit community established in 1735 by French-Canadian trader
Louis Fornel.
Located on
Hamilton Inlet, which is at the entrance to fresh water
Lake Melville; Rigolet is on salt water and is accessible to navigation during the winter. Although there is no road access, the community is accessible by snowmobile trail,
Rigolet Airport, or seasonally via a coastal ferry from
Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Although there are still
coniferous trees surrounding the village, a few kilometers northeast into Hamilton Inlet, the terrain changes drastically to a sub-arctic
tundra.
Minke and
Humpback whales are commonly observed in nearby waters. Rigolet is part of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims area and is overseen by the
Nunatsiavut government. Approximately 5% of Rigolet's population is non Inuit.
External links
★
Nunatsiavut Government homepage
★
Information on area ferry services
★
RCMP information for Rigolet
★
Labrador road, trail and ferry map
★
Google Satellite View of Rigolet
See also
★
List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
★
List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador