Along the coast in many places, sea cliffs rise precipitously 200-300 metres. Inland are innumerable lakes and rocky, fast-flowing rivers. About one-half of the region is covered by a boreal forest of black spruce and balsam fir. Near the coast, an understory of feather moss thrives in the moist sea air. Inland, nearly pure stands of balsam fir occur on well-drained sites.
Bogs cover much of the region.
Although the Strait of Belle Isle separating Newfoundland from the mainland it has a barrier to many species of wildlife. Only 14 species on the adjacent mainland. Many species, such as the moose, snowshoe hare and red squirrel have been introduced and are now thriving. Along the coastal cliffs and islands of this region are some of largest seabird rookeries in North America such as Cape St. Mary's and Witless Bay Islands. Hundreds of thousands of kittiwakes, puffins, gulls, common murres, razor-billed auks, gannets and millions of Leach's storm petrels breed at these sites.