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Boat on the Fjord in the Morning Mist1 |
To the Iroquois, it was known as "The Kingdom", a mythical land rich with gold
and treasure. Although the gold was never found, the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
region is still rich—rich with wonders and natural delights to spark the imagination
and stir the soul. Full of countless sights and attractions year round, this
corner of Quebec has seen
its share of trouble in the past. But the steadfast determination and pride
of the people has brought this land to a status of travel destination for those
world wide looking to take in what the area has to offer.
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| Canoes
on the Dock2 |
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GEOGRAPHY
About 250 km (150 mi) north of Quebec
City, the Saguenay Region is the land that surrounds Lac-Saint-Jean
and the Saguenay
Fjord. The area is densely forested with various deciduous and coniferous
trees covering most of the 104,000 sq km (40,000 sq mi) that the region encompasses.
The third largest in Quebec, some of the major cities in the Saguenay region
are Chicoutimi, Joqueiere, La Baie, Alma and Roberval. In 2002, the municipalities
of Chicoutimi, Jonqierre and La Baie conglomerated to form a larger city simply
known as Ville du Saguenay.
Some of the distinguishing features of the region include the Saguenay
Fjord and
Lac-Saint-Jean. The fjord is the longest in North America and has long
been a mode of transportation and route of trade for the indigenous peoples
and the European settlers.
HISTORY
The name Saguenay comes from an ancient legend of the Iroquois people of the
land. When Jacques Cartier was exploring the St. Lawrence River, he came across
the tribes that lived along the banks of the river and visited their village.
They told him of a kingdom to the north of their village that was inhabited
by giant blond-haired people who were rich with gold and other precious metals.
This caught the attention of the French explorers and they would eventually
seek out this legendary kingdom. Some people now believe that the giants spoke
of might have been Viking settlers, but that's just speculation. Although the
Saguenay that was foretold would never be found, the area north of Quebec City
would be named Saguenay.
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Pine
Trees Reflect on the Water3 |
The area was originally settled by French fur traders as it was along an easy
route to the ocean, and in 1837 the first settlers came. Eventually the interest
in fur trade gave way to a new industry in the area—lumber and pulp. Being rich
in natural resources, the region became a mecca for logging and the like, leading
to the building of major
pulp mills. However, after the Great Depression of the 1930s, many of
these mills went unused for decades, left to dust in the forest that birthed
them. Although there were attempts to reclaim the sites through renovation and
the incentive of tourism, the floods of 1996 would cause devastating damage.
In the summer of 1996, the region had been subjected to torrential rains leading
to subsequent flooding not seen before in the area (houses were ruined, what
were once streets had become raging rivers and entire communities were washed
away.) After all was said and done, the waters claimed the lives of 10 people,
over 15, 000 people where forced from their homes and the total cost of damages
totaled over 1.5 billion dollars. This is the worst natural disaster in Quebec
history. A little white house in Chicoutimi that survived the floods gained
national attention as it was the only home on its street to stand up to the
rapid waters. It has since become a symbol of determination and courage for
the region that had been through so much. In 1997, in what many people see as
an attempt to garner most tourism to the Saguenay Region, the town of L'Anse-Saint-Jean
voted to become a municipal monarchy, North America's first.
CULTURE
The Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region is considered by many to be the separatist
capital of Quebec. The people of the region have a strong sense of pride for
their culture and history. French is the main language spoken in the area, as
it is for most of Quebec in general. A visitor to the area wouldn't find it
too hard to come across a store
or restaurant
where no one spoke English. The residents of the area are a hospitable and friendly
lot and are more than happy to show off the place they call home for travellers
and tourists alike. Because of the ubiquitous Blueberry bushes in the area,
residents of the region are often called Bleuts.
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Rainfall |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
-21°C
(-6°F) |
-9 °C (16°F) |
59
mm |
| Feb |
-19°C
(-2°F) |
-7°C
(19°F) |
49
mm |
| Mar
|
-11°C
(12°F) |
0°C (32°F) |
52
mm |
| Apr |
-2°C (28°F) |
8°C (46°F) |
52
mm |
| May
|
3 °C (37°F) |
16°C (61°F) |
81
mm |
| Jun
|
9°C
(48°F) |
22°C
(72°F) |
89
mm |
| Jul |
12°C
(53°F) |
24°C
(75°F) |
114
mm |
|
Aug |
11°C
(52°F) |
22°C
(72°F) |
100
mm |
|
Sep |
5°C
(41°F) |
17°C
(63°F) |
99
mm |
|
Oct |
0°C
(32°F) |
10°C (50°F) |
78
mm |
|
Nov |
-5°C
(23°F) |
1°C
(34°F) |
78
mm |
|
Dec |
-16°C (3°F) |
-6°C
(21°F) |
77
mm |
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Climate
Data from The Weather Network
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CLIMATE
The summer months are warm and outdoor activities are popular. With the lake,
rivers and fjords, people in the region like to take part in water sports such
as swimming, boating and canoing. The temperatures can range from 20°C (68°F) to 30°C (86°F)in the daytime. Shorts and T-shirts can be worn in the summer month
with no discomfort. The winters are white and warm clothing is a must for anyone
wishing to venture outside. Although temperatures as low at -38°C (-36°F)are
not unheard of, the thermometer usually dips down to about -15°C (-5°F) to -17°C
(-1°F). About 280 cm (110 in) snow blankets the region and people like to
make good use of the many kilometres of snowmobile paths. Downhill and cross
country skiing
draw in many people to the region, as well as snow shoeing and ice fishing.
TRANSPORTATION
To get to the region, the best way to arrive by automobile would be to take
highway 175 north to Chicoutimi. There is an airport
in Alma, however, the region as a whole is easy to get around by car. To the
south of the river, highway 70 and 170 run along most of the major tourist destinations,
and to the north of the water way the 172 is the main artery to take. The fjord,
rivers and lake make it easy to get around by boat and in the winter months,
the snowmobile paths are an option for those looking to get around. Cyclists
can make use of the the extensive bike paths that cover most of the region.
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| The
Fjord 4 |
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FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
The Véloroute
des Bleuets is one of Quebecs largest bike paths and is a popular attraction
for those visiting the Kingdom. The path runs over 250 km (155 mi) throughout
the area and is a part of La Route Verte, or Green Route. The bike paths here
are part of the largest bike path network in North America.
The Saguenay fjord is one of the most breathtaking and popular attractions
of the area. It is estimated to be four million years old, carved out of the
Canadian shield by massive extending and receding glaciers. The fjord is 550
km (342 mi) long and is the longest in North America. Known as "the road that
walks" by the area's indiginous people, it was used for transport and trade.
Large riverboats were once seen paddling its waters, but now it's more likely
to see pedaling on its bike trails. The Route du Fjord is a popular path enjoyed
by many a cycling enthusiast.
Lac-Saint-Jean, is another feature of the area. The large flat lake covers
over 1000 sq km (390 sq mi) and is not very deep, measuring only about 63 m
(210 ft) in depth. The lake is hot spot for those looking to go fishing, boating
or taking a day
cruise on its waters.
Other attractions are the St
Felicien Zoo, where many exotic species of plants and animals call home,
the Museum
of Cheddar Cheese, where people can go to learn the history of this
delectable dairy product, and
Parc Thématique L'Odyssée des Batisseurs, an amusement park dedicated
to the importance of water in the development of the area.
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A
Happy Beluga Whale5 |
FLORA & FAUNA
The natural wonders are one of the region's main attractions. Of course there
are the blueberry bushes and the great pines that flank the fjord. Beavers can
be found busy at work damming up some of the smaller streams that feed the river,
and crafty red foxes can be seen scampering about. Beluga whales swim the water
of the fjord, as well as Harbour seals, grey seals, and Minke whales are often
found visting the fjord to feed in the plankton rich waters. Around the mouth
of the fjord, in the town of Tadoussac, whales
are known to frequent the area and as such have become a popular tourist attraction.
PHOTO COURTESY
- A Boat on the
Fjord in the Mist
- Canoes on the
Dock
- Pine Trees
Reflect on the Water
- Stan Shebs;
c/o Wikipedia; The Fjord; Saguenay River, Quebec, Canada
- c/o Wikipedia;
A Happy Beluga Whale
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