Canada: Rock in a hard place in Newfoundland

Tablelands in the Gros Morne National Park, Western Newfoundland. Photo / Newfoundland Labrador

The barren Tablelands of Gros Morne National Park throw up a few surprises, writes Kristin Edge.

Traversing the barren, red-coloured landscape of the Tablelands I feel like I'm exploring another planet.

I'm on an outcrop of 500-million-year-old rock in Western Newfoundland's Gros Morne National Park, between the towns of Trout River and Woody Point. It's in stark contrast to the rather wet environment of the park's Long Range Traverse, where water abounds.

Hiking the traverse with World Expeditions, we have diverted into the Tablelands.

Here, the Earth's mantle lies exposed.

Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks this amazing landscape is reminiscent of another planet. In 2009, a team of scientists from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Nasa, the Carnegie Institution of Washington and East Carolina University conducted research in the area looking for the presence of life in its rocks, which are quite similar to those found on Mars.

It's a very special location; a testing ground for some of the technology and equipment that would be needed for a job on Mars.

So the scientists were spotted using such things as miniature hand-held devices developed for space flight and equipment which was used aboard the International Space Station.

It must have been a strange sight for locals — scientists combing the landscape, rather than the usual view of moose.

There is very little plant life on this desert-like landscape, which originated in the Earth's mantle and was forced up from the depths during a plate collision several hundred million years ago.

The rusty-coloured rock is called peridotite, and lacks the usual nutrients required to sustain most vegetation. It is very low in calcium, very high in magnesium, and has toxic amounts of heavy metals.

Peridotite is also high in iron, which accounts for its brownish colour or rusty colour. But take a closer look and underneath the weathered exterior, the rock is really a dark green colour.

Even if you're not a rock geek, this place is breathtaking and a great opportunity to get a close up look at the inner earth.

Checklist

DETAILS
World Expeditions has July to August departures available to take on the Long Range Traverse, a six-day moderate-to-challenging trip, with prices from $3050pp. International airfares additional.