Forteau: Located in a deep bay, 11.9 km (7.4 mi) beyond L'Anse-Amour, is the town of Forteau, which includes the small communities of English Point and Buckles Point.

The name of the town, when translated from French the "fort eau"translates to mean "strong water". Because of its location, according to information presented in the ENL, Forteau was "one of the oldest, most frequented and most prolific fishing stations on the Labrador coast.... Forteau owes its importance to its felicitous location and geography".

In discussing the derivation of the name, P.W. Browne (1909) was cited as writing that the name Forteau, which unquestionably originated with French navigators, was "doubtless suggested by the strong tides found in this neighbourhood.

These tides are very irregular.... Sometimes three distinct streams are met within a distance of two miles (3.2 km]; and the tide 'rips' are of considerable strength".

From the ENL: Land on the west side of [Forteau] bay is sloping and ends in high cliffs. Terraced hills on the northeast side of the bay rise to a height of nearly 180 m (590 ft), and the head of the bay is marked by a spectacular stretch of sandy beach, behind which the settlement of Forteau is situated.

A large brook, called Forteau Brook, which is famed for its salmon run, empties into an inlet at the head of the bay.

On the west side of the inlet is Buckle's Point and Forteau proper; the east side of the inlet is English Point.

Together these three areas and L'Anse- Amour, at the northerly entrance to Forteau Bay, compose the modern incorporated community of Forteau.

Forteau might have been named by French fishermen of the 17th century, in their search for fish such as capelin, cod, herring, salmon and sea-run brook trout, as well as sealers looking for Northern Front seal, it is known that it was settled long before then by prehistoric inhabitants, especially in the L'Anse-Amour area.

Archeologists, working in the area have been able to radio-carbon the site to about 6,200 years B.P. (Before Persons). McGhee and Tuck writing in 1975, cited in the ENL, reported that the site, measuring approximately 50 ha (125 acres), was conceivably "the largest aboriginal habitation site in southem Labrador".

In addition, McGhee and Tuck have reported, at Forteau Point, there was "extensive evidence of Maritime Archaic Indian culture dated at roughly 5560 B.P."

According to the most recent census (2016) there were 409 residents in this community; a slight decrease of 4.7% from 2011 when there were 429.

Used with permission from "Uncovering the Origin of 1001 Unique Place Names in Newfoundland and Labrador" 2021 Jennifer Leigh Hill

Address of this page: http://nl.ruralroutes.com/Forteau