Mingan Archipelago
Encyclopedia
The Mingan Archipelago is an archipelago
located east of Quebec
, Canada
. It consists of a chain of about 40 island
s.
Starting but 124 miles from the end of the road
along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River (Le Fleuve), the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve
of Canada spreads about 109 miles eastward as it dots the coastline with over 2,000 islands and islets. To the southwest a 9 to 10 hour drive away lies Quebec
City. Due south across a 12 mile channel is Anticosti Island
and below Anticosti another 25 miles is the eastern tip of the Gaspe Peninsula
. To the east is a roadless coastline all the way to Newfoundland and Labrador
. To the north are tundra
, lakes, bog
and rock. In late June it is still Spring. Politically, most of the islands lie in the town of Havre-Saint-Pierre
, but the westernmost of the chain lie in the municipality of Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan
.
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
located east of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It consists of a chain of about 40 island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s.
Starting but 124 miles from the end of the road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River (Le Fleuve), the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve
Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve
The Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve is a national park reserve located in the eastern area of Quebec, Canada, on the north shore of Gulf of St. Lawrence. It features the Mingan Archipelago, a chain of around 40 islands....
of Canada spreads about 109 miles eastward as it dots the coastline with over 2,000 islands and islets. To the southwest a 9 to 10 hour drive away lies Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
City. Due south across a 12 mile channel is Anticosti Island
Anticosti Island
Anticosti Island is an island at the outlet of the Saint Lawrence River into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in Quebec, Canada, between 49° and 50° N., and between 61° 40' and 64° 30' W. At in size, it is the 90th largest island in the world and 20th largest island in Canada...
and below Anticosti another 25 miles is the eastern tip of the Gaspe Peninsula
Gaspé Peninsula
The Gaspésie , or Gaspé Peninsula or the Gaspé, is a peninsula along the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, extending into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. To the east is a roadless coastline all the way to Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. To the north are tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
, lakes, bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
and rock. In late June it is still Spring. Politically, most of the islands lie in the town of Havre-Saint-Pierre
Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec
Havre-Saint-Pierre is a town situated on Pointe-aux-Esquimaux, which is on the Quebec north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Canada...
, but the westernmost of the chain lie in the municipality of Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan
Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, Quebec
Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan is a municipality in the Côte-Nord region of the province of Quebec in Canada.The descriptive name Longue-Pointe refers to a long spit of sand west of the village that has had various names through the centuries: first called Longue Pointe on a map of 1735, followed by the...
.