Page 291 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Canada

tycoon Henri Menier, bought Located along the north shore of the Gulf
the island in 1895 and stocked of Saint Lawrence, the Mingan Archipelago
it with a herd of white­tailed National Park protects more than 1,000
deer for his friends to hunt.
Now numbering 150,000, the islands and islets.
deer herd is firmly ensconced
but can still be hunted. Wild­
life abounds; over 150 species 11 of the town, is a reconstruc­
of bird live in the relatively tion of a fur­trading post, and
unspoiled forest and on Sept-Îles there is a small museum with
the beaches. The island is £ @ g n 1401 Blvd Laure W; First Nations art and artifacts.
separate from the Mingan www.tourismeseptiles.ca Despite its industrial
Archipelago National Park, so import ance, Sept­Îles is an
there is no admittance fee. Until the 1950s, Sept­Îles led a area of considerable natural
quiet existence as a historic, beauty. Miles of sandy beaches
sleepy fishing village. After rim the nearby coastline, and
10 World War II, however, the little the salmon­rich Moisie River
settlement, located on the
flows into the Gulf of Saint
Îles-de-la- Madeleine shores of a large, circular bay, Lawrence just east of the town.
drew the attention of large The seven rocky islands that
~ g n 128 Chemin companies to use as a base for gave the city its name make up
Principal, Cap-aux-Meules;
www.tourisme ilesdela expanding the iron­mining the Sept­Îles Archipelago Park.
madeleine.com industry in northern Quebec. One of the seven islands, Île
Now the largest town along Grand­Basque, is a popular
Linked to the mainland by the north shore of the Gulf of local camping spot. Another,
scheduled flights and ferries, Saint Lawrence, Sept­Îles has Île du Corossol, is now a bird
many of the 12,000 residents turned into Canada’s second­ sanctuary that teems with
of these remote islands have largest port as part of the gulls, terns, and puffins, and
taken to painting their homes Saint Lawrence Seaway. can be toured with a guide.
in an assortment of mauves, Although boasting the best of Cruises are available for
yellows, and reds. This results modern marine technology, guided trips between islands.
in a striking view on approach, the town also offers a reminder
whether by sea or air. The of its long­standing history.
islands themselves have much Vieux­Poste, near the center
to offer any visitor who makes
the effort to see them; they
are home to what are reputed Puffins (inset)
to be some of the best beaches and the strangely
in the coun try, celebrated shaped monoliths in
for their fine sand and Mingan Archipelago
sheltered position. National Park

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