Quebec, Canada
Quebec is Canada ‘s largest province. It is unlike any other province in the country. The French heritage is manifested here in everything: both in the main language (the main and only official language in Quebec is French), and in architecture, and in culture. Most of the province is occupied by the Canadian Shield. South of the Canadian Shield stretches the Laurentian Upland or, as the locals call it, the Laurentides. Along the Laurentides on the south side flows the St. Lawrence River. This is the main river not only of the province, but of the country as a whole. Its valley is a historically significant area where the first French colonists began to settle, and today most of the French-speaking population of Canada lives here.. From the south bank, the St. Lawrence River is bordered by the northern spurs of the Appalachian Mountains, which also enter the Gaspé Peninsula, which goes deep into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. According to Fashionissupreme.com, the province also owns Anticosti Island and the Madeleine archipelago located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the northwestern part of the province, lowlands extend along the coast of Hudson Bay. The provincial capital is Quebec City . Quebec is located on the left bank of the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River. The city was founded in 1608 as the capital of the first European colony in North America, New France. In 1763, by the Treaty of Paris, Quebec became part of the British., however, most of the French settlers remained here and began to fight for their rights. The Old City (Upper City) of Quebec is located on a hilltop on Cape Diamant and is surrounded by fortified walls from the side of the St. Lawrence River. The fortress walls run along the upper edge of the slope that separates the ancient Upper Town from the Lower Town. The first sections of the walls began to be erected in the 17th century by the French. Fortifications of Quebec are the only remaining 17th century urban fortifications in North America and, due to their uniqueness, are under the protection of UNESCO. A pedestrian street runs along the fortress walls, from where a beautiful view of the St. Lawrence River opens. Within the walls of the fortress in 1831, the British erected the Citadel, in terms of having the appearance of a pointed star. It is now the residence of the Governor General of Canada. Also in the Upper Town, many buildings of the 17th-19th centuries have been preserved. Opposite the Citadel is Parliament Hill, where the building of the National Assembly of Quebec in 1886 is located, on the eastern edge of the fortress walls rises the majestic building of the Chateau Frontenac hotel 1893, next to the hotel is the main Catholic church of the country – Notre Dame de Quebec Cathedral of 1647. To the east of the Citadel lies the vast plain of Abraham. This is a historical place where in 1759 one of the most important battles between the British and French for the right to control the colonies in North America took place. In 1908, Battle Park was established on the plain. From the Château Frontenac Hotel up the slope to the Lower Townruns the oldest funicular in North America. In the Lower City, the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Victoire of 1688, the Museum of Civilization with collections on the history of the country, the city port and the restored artisan quarter of Petit Champlain are of interest. On the streets of the Lower City, such as Laurier Boulevard and Grand Alle, there are not only historical buildings, but also numerous modern shopping centers, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes. Great places to stay in Quebec are the city’s Aquarium and Zoo. You can also relax on the island of Orleans, which is located in the center of the channel of the St. Lawrence River opposite the city port, and in the suburban park Chute-Montmorency, where the highest waterfall in the province is located – Montmorency Falls, 84 m high.
From Quebec, you can go further east along the mouth of the St. Lawrence River to St. Lawrence Bay. One of the main attractions of this region is the Gaspesie Peninsula, which is located on the southern bank of the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and deeply protrudes into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the central part of the peninsula lies the provincial park of the Gaspesie peninsula.. The spurs of the Appalachian Mountains stretch in the park with 25 peaks over 1000 m high. The entire park is dotted with hiking trails, among which is the famous International Appalachian Trail, 650 km long. Many rivers flow through the peninsula, where Atlantic salmon is found, so you can fish here. Sandy beaches and ancient villages stretch along the coastline of the Gaspesie peninsula. This is a great place for a relaxing holiday in nature and whale watching. The best beaches of the peninsula are located on the shores of Shaler Bay. On the east coast of the peninsula is the Forillon National Park.. The park was created in 1970 on an area of 244 sq. km. The northernmost spurs of the Appalachians, which form 200-meter cliffs near the coastline, and the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, along with the marine animals living in them, are protected here. In the park, you can practice sea kayaking, whale watching, hiking, beach holidays or go on a sea cruise. The Madeleine archipelago is located 215 km southeast of the Gaspesie peninsula in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.. The archipelago has about a dozen islands, where sandy beaches, dunes, rocks and green hills stretch. Sea excursions are organized here to observe gray and harp seals and hooded seals. There is even a Seal Center on the islands, which tells everything about the life of these marine animals. You can also learn about the underwater world of the Gulf of St. Lawrence at the Maritime Museum or the Aquarium. In addition, the Madeleine archipelago is known for its ornithological tours, because about 200 species of birds settle on its coasts: cormorants, guillemots, guillemots, gulls and others. On the islands there are opportunities for rafting, kayaking, hiking or fishing, and there may even be sharks in the catch.
East of Quebec the opposite northern coast of the mouth of the St. Lawrence River also has many attractions. The ski resorts of Mont Sainte Anne are located here, which offers tourists an unlimited choice of slopes, and one of the best ski resorts in eastern Canada – Le Massif. To the east is the Saginai and St. Lawrence Rivers National Marine Park, where the fresh waters of these rivers and the salty waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence mix. The park was created in 1998 to protect the lower reaches of the Saginay River and the northern part of the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. The total area of the protected area is 1138 square meters. km. One of the most beautiful fjords in Canada is located on the Saginay River. and one of the most southerly fjords in the world. In addition, the fact that the fjord is located not on the sea coast, but on the river coast, also makes it unique. The fjord stretches for 100 km along the river and is covered with forests. The Saginai and St. Lawrence Rivers National Marine Park is a great place to observe large marine life.
For observations of large marine mammals, the coast extending eastward to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is also suitable. Sandy beaches, rocks and salt marshes stretch along it, where about 175 species of birds nest. Interesting located on 40 islands and about 1000 small islets and reefs in the Jacques-Cartier Strait National Park of the Mingan Archipelago. In the coastal areas of the park, you can see bizarre grottoes, caves, bridges and rocks that were formed by the forces of water. Inside the island caves are deposits of ancient marine organisms. It is also a great place for bird watching. Opposite the park is the island of Anticosti, where many white-tailed deer live, the population density of which reaches 20 individuals per 1 sq. km. km.
From Quebec to the southwest of the province, the Royal Road leaves – the first road in Canada, laid specifically for travel by horse-drawn carriages. Since 1737, it has been linking the main cities of the province – Quebec and Montreal.. The Royal Road runs along the left bank of the St. Lawrence River through scenic areas: Laurentides, lakes, forests, rocky shores, and ancient villages. In the center of the route is Lake St. Pierre, on the banks of which there is a biosphere reserve. It is the largest nesting area for waterfowl in North America. Every year, during the periods of spring and autumn migrations, about 300 species of birds settle here, among which is a rare snow goose. La Maurice National Park is located 50 km to the north.536 sq. km. The park is located on the hilly Laurentian Upland among picturesque lakes. Most of it is covered with forests, 40 species of mammals and 180 species of birds live here. The Royal Road ends in the eastern suburbs of the largest city in the province of Quebec – Montreal .
Montreal is located on the island of the same name at the confluence of the Ottawa River into the St. Lawrence River, and, together with the cities and small islands adjacent to it, makes up the Montreal agglomeration. Just 170 km west of the city is the capital of Canada – Ottawa. Just like in Quebec, most Montreal residents- French Canadians, in addition, Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris. In the center of Montreal rises Mount Royal, 233 m high, which gave the name to the city. On the mountain and at its foot is the Old Town of Montreal. Its top is crowned with an illuminated cross 31.4 m high. The first cross was erected by order of the founder of Montreal – Paul Chaumedy de Maisonneuve – in 1643. The current cross was erected in 1924 as a symbol of the Catholic faith. On the slopes of Mont-Royal there is an extensive park of the same name.with many walking trails, bike paths, a lake and slopes for skiing in winter. This is the most popular holiday destination in Montreal. The park was designed by American architect Frederick Olmsted, who also designed Central Park in New York. On the northern slope of Mount Royal stands St. Joseph’s Cathedral of1967, to the east of Mount Royal there is St. Patrick’s Cathedral of 1847, not far from here the McCord Museum of Canadian History is of interest, in the vicinity of the museum there is one of the oldest public places in Montreal – Place de Arms 1693, in front of the Place Des Arms stands the Church of Notre Dame de Montreal1829, and not far from here in the vicinity of the Old Port, the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours of 1657 (one of the most ancient churches on the continent) is also interesting. In front of the entrance to the Old Port is Jacques Cartier Square, opposite the square is the City Hall building of 1878, and in front of the City Hall is the building of the Museum of Pointe-à-Callier (Museum of Archeology and History), next to the City Hall is also the Historical Museum of Montreal , which is located in the ancient castle of Ramaze. Be sure to visit the various museums of the city: the Museum of Modern Art on Arts Square, which contains about 7,000 works by contemporary masters, the Museum of Fine Arts, where 30,000 objects are exhibited: paintings, sculptures, graphic works, photographs and decorative arts, the Canadian Center for Architecture, which is located in an old mansion with restored interiors of the late 19th century, the Stewart Museum, which tells about the history of the discovery of the New World, and the University Exhibition Center Montreal . In addition, it is worth visiting St. James Street in Montreal, where most of the banks are located, which are located in buildings of the 19th century, as well as at the 188-meter skyscraper Vill-Marie, under which an underground city of 12 square meters stretches. km with many shopping centers. In the northeastern part of the island Montreal is located in the Olympic Park with the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics, the Biodome, which presents various natural areas of the planet, and an insectarium. Nearby is the third largest Botanical Garden in the world. A little to the south, under the Jacques Cartier bridge thrown over the St. Lawrence River, 4.5 km long, is the island of St. Helen. The island is home to the amusement park La Ronde. The park was built in 1967 and is now the largest amusement park in the province. Off the northwestern coast of the island of Montreal, the island of Bizarre with the Bois de Ile Bizarre park and the island of Laval with Cosmod are interesting.
About 100 km north of Montreal in the Laurentides, on the slopes of Mount Tremblant (935 m), there is a provincial park of the same name with many ski resorts, which in the summer turn into holiday homes with extensive golf courses and bike trails. The most popular resort in this region is the Mont Tremblant ski resort. The northern part of the province of Quebec is the land of lakes and rivers. Here is the largest lake in the province – Lake Mistassini with an area of 2335 square meters. km. The northern regions of Quebec are suitable for lovers of fishing. Arctic grayling, arctic and lake salmon, pike and yellow zander live in local lakes and rivers.The Ungava Peninsula, bordering the Territory of Nunavut, is the birthplace of the indigenous inhabitants of the tundra zone of North America – the Innuit. Tours are arranged in Innuit villages, where you can get acquainted with their culture and main crafts. Also in these places you can observe the northern lights and see herds of caribou. On the border with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in its northern part, the Torngat Mountains stretch. Here is the highest point of the province of Quebec – Mount d’Iberville with a height of 1646 m.
