Havre-Saint-Pierre Explained

Havre-Saint-Pierre
Flag Size:120x100px
Motto:Terre digne de richesses
Mapsize:200px
Pushpin Map:Côte-Nord Region Quebec
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Côte-Nord region of Quebec
Coordinates:50.245°N -63.5997°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Canada
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1857
Established Title1:Constituted
Established Date1:January 1, 1873
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Paul Barriault
Area Total Km2:3932.33
Area Land Km2:2570.09
Population Total:3337
Population As Of:2021
Population Density Km2:1.3
Population Blank1 Title:Pop (2016-21)
Population Blank1: 3.6%
Population Blank2 Title:Dwellings
Population Blank2:1655
Utc Offset:−05:00
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:−04:00
Blank Name:Highways

Havre-Saint-Pierre is a municipality located on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in Côte-Nord region, Minganie RCM, Quebec, Canada.

History

In 1857, a group of Acadian families arrived, in 1872, the Parish of Saint-Pierre-de-la-Pointe-aux-Esquimaux was officially established, the same year its post office opened under the name Esquimaux Point.[1]

In 1873, the place was incorporated as a municipality. In 1924, the post office changed its name to Havre-Saint-Pierre, followed by the town in 1927, in order to focus on the harbor, which characterizes the area, while retaining the original parish name. It remained the largest town on the North Shore until 1936 when it was overtaken by Baie-Comeau.[1]

Since 1948, the Quebec Iron and Titanium Company mines deposits of ilmenite, a mineral composed of iron and titanium, at a site some north.[1] The Chemin de fer de la Rivière Romaine brings it by rail cars to Havre-Saint-Pierre.

Geography

Havre-Saint-Pierre is located in a place formerly known as Rade aux Esquimaux or Pointe aux Esquimaux, north of the Mingan Archipelago and Anticosti Island, on the shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The municipality is located 1000 km east of Montreal, 870 km northeast of Quebec City and 200 km from Sept-Îles. Access.[2] [3]

Geology

The Havre Saint-Pierre - Mingan region is located in the geological province of Grenville. It includes rocks of Precambrian and Ordovician age.

The Precambrian is represented by metamorphosed and intrusive sedimentary rocks. The Ordovician rocks, of sedimentary nature, belong to the Mingan Iceland group which is divided into two formations: the Romaine Formation and the Mingan Formation.

A study by Quebec Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (1986) covers several aspects of a territory 5 to 13 km wide and 70 km long along the coast from Havre-Saint-Pierre to Baie-Johan-Beetz. From an ecological and morpho-sedimentological point of view, this region and the sub-region, Havre-Saint-Pierre and Nickerson Bay, are extremely diverse.

Whether they were formed by erosion or sedimentation processes, or whether they were subjected to or resulted from extreme climatic events, or from the action of the sea and its estuary, morpho-sedimentological units bear witness to an extraordinary structural organization of the natural space.

Other important geological features in the vicinity of Havre-Saint-Pierre include the Romaine River to the north west, Manitou Falls on the Manitou River to the west, Île du Havre to the south, less than 1 km from the coast, and off the coast, Anticosti Island which can be seen on a clear day.

Biogeography

Flora

With the exception of the enclosed area just behind the village, the area of Havre Saint-Pierre is mainly covered by large Spruce forests and a few laricinin fields (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch). There are also White spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss.), Dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa Minchx), Rough alder (Alnus rugosa (DuRoi Spreng.) and Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux).[4]

Brothers Marie-Victorin and Rolland Germain F.E.C. explored the region from 1924 to 1928. Their work has raised awareness in the scientific community of the enormous value of the Mingan Archipelago. Since then, other scientists have added to the ecology and phytogeography knowledge of this sector.[5]

The vegetation of the Mingan Islands belongs to the Chibougamau-Natashquan boreal forest region, which is dominated by Black spruce. The high latitude and low altitude, combined with the proximity of the cold currents of Labrador, explain the subarctic vegetation specific to the Minganie.

The entirely calcareous nature of the horizontal stratified rocks, which make up the Anticosti - Minganie, exerts a profound influence on the structure of the flora and on the choice of species.

Remarkable for its richness, the flora includes 350 vascular plants including the presence of two rare taxa: Cirsium foliosum var. Minganense and Cypripedium passerinum var. Minganense. Sixty species are new to the list of Minganie harvests compiled by Marie-Victorin and Rolland-Germain (1969). There were also 150 bryophytes and 152 lichens, 29 of which were additions to the Nouveau Catalogue des lichens, published by Lepage (1972).[6] [7]

Fauna

Terrestrial mammals

During the summers of 1964 and 1965, during geological research, Jean Depatie with a team of geologists and students, assisted by 3 canoemen and lumberjacks, plus a cook, explored 440 square miles of a territory stretching from Sept-Îles to Blanc Sablon, in the Lac à l'Ours region. In the field, scientists noted an abundance of Canadian beavers, a few otters and American mink, many hares, partridges and a multitude of ducks. Caribou and moose are scarce while black bears and red foxes abound.[8]

Marine mammals

The waters of the St. Lawrence Estuary are internationally recognized as a vital feeding ground for rare or common species of marine mammals.

Birds

Many species of birds can be observed in the area of Havre-Saint-Pierre and in Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve

Climate

In spite of its maritime position just above the 50th parallel, Havre-Saint-Pierre has a relatively harsh subarctic climate, with cold winters and cool summers, although the fourth-warmest month of September is relatively close to the isotherm to be cold humid continental. The high precipitation brings a lot of snowfall in winter.[16] [17]

Demography

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec
CensusTotal
YearResponsesCountTrendPop % CountTrendPop %CountTrendPop %CountTrendPop %
3,270 7.8%98.64%25 40.0%0.75%15 n/a%0.45%5 85.7%0.15%
3,015 4.9%98.37%15 50.0%0.49%0 100.0%0.00%35 n/a%1.14%
3,170 5.1%98.75%30 16.7%0.93%10 0.0%0.31%0 0.0%0.00%
3,340 n/a98.96%25n/a0.74%10n/a0.30%0n/a0.00%

Economy

The city hospital is the major employer in the region. Havre-Saint-Pierre is also located near Canada's only titanium mine, for which the town serves as a port. Since 1948, the Quebec Iron and Titanium Company mines deposits of ilmenite, a mineral composed of iron and titanium, at a site some north.[1] The Chemin de fer de la Rivière Romaine brings it by rail cars to Havre-Saint-Pierre.

Tourism

Marine transportation from Havre-Saint-Pierre or Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan is required to visit the islands of the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve. It is possible to spend the night there. Private companies offer guided excursions, they also offer packages for sea kayaking expeditions, with transport by boat on the way back if the weather conditions are unfavourable. Paddle boards with equipment are available for rent. Parks Canada recommends some marine carriers.[18] ' [19]

It is noted for the unique variety of flora and fauna to be found there, such as puffins and the rare Mingan Thistle,[20] and for the unique geological features on many of the islands, which are referred to as "monoliths".

The waters of the St. Lawrence Estuary is the host to one of the largest whale and marine mammals watching industries in the world.'

Fishing

Including all of the gulf coast of the St. Lawrence between Pointe-des-Monts (Baie-Trinité) and Blanc-Sablon, as well as the coasts of Anticosti Island area, the waters is renowned for fishing, catching northern lobster, whelk, Atlantic cod, Atlantic herring, Greenland halibut, capelin, rainbow smelt, snow crab, as well as Atlantic salmon and trout in the many lakes and rivers of the North Shore. Only a few of the approximately 100 species of marine algae, 1000 invertebrate species and 80 fish species in the gulf are exploited by humans.[21]

Transportation

Route 138

At the beginning of the 20th century, the first routes of what would become Route 138 (formerly Route 15) were laid in the vicinity of Sept-Îles. In 1961, a section was added from the Franquelin region to the tip of the Moisie River, some 20 kilometres east of Sept-Îles.

On the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, until 1976, there was no continuous route to go further east than the Moisie River. Only bits of paths connect a few coastal villages to each other, Natashquan connects to Aguanish by a dirt road (1959).

The section of Route 138, from the Moisie River to Havre-Saint-Pierre, opened in the spring of 1976, from there access to the islands of the Mingan Archipelago by sea.

In 1984, to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's arrival in New France, the Commission de toponymie named Route Jacques-Cartier to the part of Route 138 located east of the Saguenay River, from Tadoussac to Havre-Saint-Pierre.[22]

Land - Air - Sea

The Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Company (RTFF) owns the easternmost of the ore ports on the North Shore in Havre-Saint-Pierre. Its installation, between 1948 and 1950, included a mining shaft at Tio and Allard lakes, the construction of a 43 km railway line between this sector and Havre-Saint-Pierre, and the installation of a marine terminal[23]

Navigation

As is often the case on the middle and lower North Shore islands, in the Mingan Archipelago, the combination of irregular seabeds and strong tidal currents sometimes makes navigation perilous. On the Mingan Banks, in the Jacques Cartier Strait, Anticosti Island and the North Shore form a large funnel where the easterly wind creates, among other things, an impressive swell.[29]

Along the Lower North Shore, it is only from Johan Beetz Bay to Kegaska that the coastline is continuous and the water is quite deep. At ebb tide, the high flow of the rivers of the North Shore often creates very difficult, if not clearly dangerous, seas.[30]

Notable residents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Havre-Saint-Pierre (Municipalité) . Commission de toponymie du Québec . 2010-09-09 . fr.
  2. Web site: Park Canada . Plan your visit - Mingan Archipelago - National Park Reserve . Government of Canada . 29 January 2024 . 2023-07-26 . Take the 138 E highway, or travel by plane to Sept-Îles and drive by car for the remaining 200km. Marine transportation is required from Havre-Saint-Pierre or Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan to visit the islands,.
  3. Web site: Havre-Saint-Pierre all seasons . 2024 Tourisme Côte-Nord . 29 January 2024 . Where to go, What to do, Where to sleep, Where to eat.
  4. Web site: Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Forêt Québec, Forest Inventory Branch . Guide to the Recognition of Ecological Types: Ecological Region Anticosti Island, Mingan Islands . Quebec Gouvernement . 19 January 2024 . fr . July 2007 . an ecological region is a homogeneous unit in relation to the dynamics of vegetation and variables in the physical environment.
  5. Web site: Marie-Victorin (1885–1944) . Avant-pays Anticosti-Minganie . florelaurentienne.com . 19 January 2024 . 56 of 920 . fr . 2003 . Because of the importance and biological autonomy of this archipelago, we have given it the name of Minganie.
  6. Web site: Flora of a thousand faces . Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve . Gouvernement of Canada . 19 January 2024 . The woodlands of the Mingan Islands are made up of Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), Black Spruce (Picea mariana) and White Spruce (Picea glauca)..
  7. Web site: Line Couillard and Pierre Grondin . The rare plants of Mingan archipelago . Environnement Canada Parks . 19 January 2024. 3 January 2023 . picking of all plants is strictly prohibited in national parks..
  8. Web site: Jean Depatie . Preliminaty Report on L'Ours lake area, . Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles - Gouvernement du Québec . 29 January 2024 . 21 . 1967 . This study focuses on several coastal islands, which are part of the Mingan Archipelago, and covers 400 square miles of Duplessis County.
  9. Web site: George Kolenosky . Black bear . Minister of Environment, Minister of Supply and Services Canada . 30 January 2024 . 1992 . Favourite fruits include blueberries, buffalo berries, strawberries, elderberries, saskatoons, black cherries, and apples..
  10. Web site: Parks Canada . Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve . Government of Canada . 2024-01-16 . 2022-11-19 . Seabirds, Seals, Whales, Land Mammals, occasionally, Black Bears and Moose.
  11. Web site: St. Lawrence Estuary Marine Protected Area (MPA) Project . Fisheries and Oceans Canada . 31 January 2024 . 13 of 76 . March 2010 . Nearly half a dozen marine mammal species found in the estuary regularly or occasionally are species at risk listed.
  12. Web site: Centre d'interprétation de la Station de Recherche des Îles Mingan . Bonjour Quebec . 31 January 2024 . 2024 . Take a guided tour of the museum with field biologists and learn more about the marine mammals that inhabit the St. Lawrence River.
  13. Web site: Park Canada . Betchouane Migratory Bird Sanctuary . Government of Canada . 30 January 2024 . 2019-10-24 . this sanctuary including large numbers of razorbill, Atlantic puffin, herring gull and great black-backed gull. Black-legged kittiwake and black guillemot.
  14. Web site: Bird Watching in Côte-Nord . Quebec by the sea . 30 January 2024 . Côte-Nord is home to hundreds of bird species..
  15. Web site: Government of Canada . Marine Birds . Parks Canada . 2024-01-18 . 2020-12-24 . In order to ensure the reproductive success of these birds, certain islands or sectors of the islands are closed to public during the nesting period.
  16. Web site: Havre-Saint-Pierre . Weatherbase . 1 February 2024 . Köppen climate classification Continental Subarctic Climate.
  17. Web site: Havre-St-Pierre, Quebec Temperature Averages. Weatherbase. 7 March 2015.
  18. Web site: Go on an adventure . Boréale services maritimes . 26 January 2024 . 2023 . our boats: Le Calculot, Captain Yockell, Le Perroquet de Mer, Le Marsouin III, June to October.
  19. Web site: Maritime Transport Services Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve . Government of Canada . 26 January 2024 . 2023 . Excursion, Shuttle, Sea Kayaking, Stand-Up Paddleboarding.
  20. Web site: Study Results - Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve . www.pc.gc.ca . Government of Canada, Parks Canada Agency . 30 September 2022 . 27 July 2009.
  21. Web site: Marc Gagnon . North Shore–Anticosti Priority Intervention Zone 19 . Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada . 26 January 2024 . 42, 43 of 102 . January 1998 . includes all of the gulf coast of the St. Lawrence between Pointe-des-Monts and Blanc-Sablon, as well as the coasts of Anticosti Island..
  22. Web site: Richard Nolin . Management Plan National Park Reserve of Canada – Mingan Archipelago . Gouvernement of Canada . 25 January 2024 . 32 of 124 . 10 August 2006 . The completion of Route 138 between Sept-Îles and Havre-Saint-Pierre in 1976 opened the way for many new ventures..
  23. Web site: Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Quebec operations . Rio Tinto . 26 January 2024 . 2024 . Producer of titanium dioxide feedstock, iron and steel used in automotive industry and wind turbines.
  24. Web site: relaisnordik.com . The Bella Desgagnés, cargo-passenger ship . 26 January 2024 . 2024 . Go further than the road can take you.
  25. Web site: Air Tunilik, seaplane transport service in Quebec . 26 January 2024 . Vido . Seaplane in service: Cessna Caravan, C-208 DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-3T Turbo Otter, DHC-2 Beaver.
  26. Web site: Havre-Saint-Pierre Airport . 26 January 2024 . 2024 . Airport termnal.
  27. Web site: Havre-Saint-Pierre Port . Côte-Nord, between nature and excess . 26 January 2024 . 2024 . the wharf can accommodate ships, barges, cargo vessels, fishing boats as well as national and international cruises..
  28. Web site: Côte-Nord . Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec . FCMQ snowmobilers . 26 January 2024 . At the far east of Quebec, on the North Shore of the Saint-Lawrence and to the eastof the Saguenay River, bordering Labrador (Newfoundland) to the east..
  29. Web site: The St Lawrence River Hot Spots . 1 February 2024 . 4 of 5 . The maps are based on climatological charts of the St Lawrence, published by Environment Canada, Québec Region..
  30. Web site: National Marine Weather Guide Quebec Regional Guide . Environnement Canada . 1 February 2024 . 15 of 38 . 2015-03-31 . The easterly wind is particularly strong in the Détroit de Jacques-Cartier, where Anticosti and the north shore form a huge funnel. This wind produces a significant swell on the Bancs de Mingan..