L'Anse aux Meadows, looking north.
The site lies on the eastern shore of a shallow bay, Epaves Bay. An island to the north makes the site easily recognizable when approached from northern waters. On clear days the Labrador coast is distinctly visible. The site takes its name from a village about 1 km north of the site, originally occupied by French and later English fishermen. The earliest name was L'Anse au Medée which means Medea Bay.

Courtesy of the Department of Canadian Heritage, Parks Canada, Federal Archaeology. ©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Canada. Photo by Birgitta Wallace.