Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Encyclopedia
Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine is an administrative region 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....
consisting of the Gaspé 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...
and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Magdalen Islands
The Magdalen Islands form a small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence with a land area of . Though closer to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, the islands form part of the Canadian province of Quebec....
. It lies in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
at the eastern extreme of Quebec. The predominant economic activities are fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
The administrative region of Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine was created on December 22, 1987. It brings together two geographical units: the Gaspé peninsula (20,102.69 km2) and the Magdalen Islands archipelago (205.4 km2). The population is 94,336 (2006 census
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
). The region is projected into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, at the eastern extremity of Quebec. The region's interior, 80% of which is covered by coniferous forests, is among the most rugged terrain in the province. Rich soils cover the land along the coast and within the region's river valleys. Important mineral deposits are also found in this region.
Forty-two local municipalities are located in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, along with seven unorganized territories, two reserves, and one Mi'kmaq community. With the exception of a few villages, the entire population is spread out along the coast, in villages with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. Its largest community is the city of Gaspé
Gaspé, Quebec
Gaspé is a city at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of eastern Quebec, Canada. As of the 2006 census, the city had a total population of 14,819....
(2006 population 14,819), near the tip of the peninsula.
The region has undergone many stresses which have influenced the evolution of its economy. The decrease in population as well as in primary resources, the weak diversity of secondary economic activities, and the seasonal nature of many of its jobs are all elements that explain the fragility of the job market. Tourism plays a vital part in the region's economy.
Subdivisions
Regional County Municipalities- Avignon Regional County Municipality, QuebecAvignon Regional County Municipality, QuebecAvignon Regional County Municipality is located in eastern Quebec, on the Gaspé peninsula, along Baie des Chaleurs. The regional county municipality seat is Nouvelle...
- Bonaventure Regional County Municipality, QuebecBonaventure Regional County Municipality, QuebecBonaventure Regional County Municipality is a regional county municipality in eastern Quebec, on the Gaspé Peninsula. The regional county municipality seat is New Carlisle.-Communities:Cities*Bonaventure*New Richmond*Paspébiac...
- Le Rocher-Percé Regional County Municipality, QuebecLe Rocher-Percé Regional County Municipality, QuebecRocher-Percé is a county regional municipality of Quebec in Canada. It is named after Percé Rock , a massive arched sandstone rock rising from the Atlantic just off the tip of the Gaspé peninsula. The region includes the towns of Percé, Grande-Rivière, Port-Daniel-Gascons and Chandler...
Independent Municipalities
- Grosse-Île, QuebecGrosse-Île, QuebecGrosse-Île is one of two municipalities forming the urban agglomeration of Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region and the population is 539 as of 2009....
- Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QuebecLes Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QuebecLes Îles-de-la-Madeleine is one of two municipalities forming the urban agglomeration of Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region and the population is 12,628 as of 2009....
Indian Reserves
- Gesgapegiag, Quebec
- Listuguj, Quebec
Major communities
- BonaventureBonaventure, QuebecBonaventure is a town on the Gaspé Peninsula in the Bonaventure Regional County Municipality of Quebec. It is located on Baie des Chaleurs near the mouth of the Bonaventure River...
- Cap-ChatCap-Chat, QuebecCap-Chat is a town in the Canadian province of Québec, in the Regional County Municipality of Haute-Gaspésie, and in the administrative region of Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Its geographical co-ordinates are lat. 49°6′ N; long. 66°41′ W. Cap-Chat is found 16 km west of...
- Carleton-sur-MerCarleton-sur-Mer, QuebecCarleton-sur-Mer is the fifth largest town of the Gaspésie's south shore, in southeastern Quebec, located on route 132, along Baie des Chaleurs.- Culture :* attracts over 20,000 spectators to see local and international artists...
- ChandlerChandler, QuebecThe port of Chandler was founded in 1912 when Percy Milton Chandler, a Philadelphia manufacturer, built the first pulp and paper mill in the Gaspésie at the site. This city of 7914 is the birthplace of NHL player Mathieu Garon. It is located at 48°21′N latitude, 64°41′ longitude. Its elevation is...
- GaspéGaspé, QuebecGaspé is a city at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of eastern Quebec, Canada. As of the 2006 census, the city had a total population of 14,819....
- Grande-RivièreGrande-Rivière, QuebecGrande-Rivière is a city in the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of the province of Québec in Canada....
- Les Îles-de-la-MadeleineLes Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QuebecLes Îles-de-la-Madeleine is one of two municipalities forming the urban agglomeration of Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region and the population is 12,628 as of 2009....
- New RichmondNew Richmond, QuebecNew Richmond is an incorporated municipality in Quebec, Canada situated on the southern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula between the municipalities of Maria and Caplan. The first European settlers arrived from Scotland in 1755. The first arrivals were the Duthie brothers, George and John Duthie and...
- PaspébiacPaspébiac, QuebecPaspébiac is a town on Baie des Chaleurs in the Gaspésie region of eastern Quebec, Canada. As of 2006, the population was 3,159. The town is noted for the Banc de Paspébiac, a large sandbar jutting out into the bay...
- PercéPercé, QuebecPercé is a small village near the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in Québec. As a municipality, it is 432.39 square km in area. It has a long history of being an important seasonal fishing centre under the French...
- Sainte-Anne-des-MontsSainte-Anne-des-Monts, QuebecSainte-Anne-des-Monts is a city in the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of the province of Quebec in Canada.Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, a small city between mountains and sea, it is on the south shore of the St-Lawrence river estuary.-History:...