Lanaudière
Encyclopedia
Lanaudière is one of the seventeen administrative regions of Quebec
, Canada, situated immediately to the northeast of Montreal
. It has a total population (2006 census
) of 429,053 inhabitants.
and the Laurentian Mountains
, between Mauricie
and the Laurentides. Lanaudière attracts a good deal of interest from vacationers due to its unique character founded largely on the harmony between its culture and the surrounding natural environment. Lanaudière's area of 12413.73 square kilometres (4,793 sq mi) stretch northwest from a shoreline of 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) on the Saint Lawrence River. Lanaudière is generally rural, while the urban areas are generally concentrated in the south of the region, such as Repentigny
, Terrebonne
and Berthierville
. The altitude rises as one goes northwards; it is 20 metres (65.6 ft) near the Saint Lawrence River to almost 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) at the top of mountains near Saint-Donat and Saint-Zénon
.
Lanaudière is made up of three distinct geographical groupings: the southern plain has cities and farming villages and includes many historical locations; the piedmont
in the centre has become a vacation spot due to its numerous lakes and natural attractions, and the Laurentian Plateau in the far north in the forested country is known for its fishing and hiking.
The three main ports of entry for Lanaudière are all in the south: Terrebonne, Repentigny and Berthierville.
Lanaudière's road network was developed according to three north-south axes (25-125, 31-131, 347), all of which have few links with the neighbouring regions. Even though this internal network is almost exclusively composed of secondary roads, it is well-designed for long automobile trips or for biking. Lanaudière has two wildlife preserves, the Rouge-Matawin and the Mastigouche, as well as part of the Mont Tremblant park. Further to the north, about an hour away from Saint-Michel-des-Saints
, there is the Atikamekw
indian reserve
of Manawan
.
and wife of the businessman Barthélemy Joliette
, descendant of the famous explorer Louis Jolliet
. Lanaudière evokes the lineage of the lords De Lanaudière who contributed, over seven generations, to the defence and the development of the French colonies in America, to that of France
and to that of the region.
Indian Reserve
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....
, Canada, situated immediately to the northeast of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. It has a total population (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....
) of 429,053 inhabitants.
Geography
The region of Lanaudière is part of central Quebec and is located between the Saint Lawrence RiverSaint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
and the Laurentian Mountains
Laurentian mountains
The Laurentian Mountains are a mountain range in southern Quebec, Canada, north of the St. Lawrence River and Ottawa River, rising to a highest point of 1166 metres at Mont Raoul Blanchard, north east of Quebec City in the Reserve Faunique des Laurentides. The Gatineau, L'Assomption, Lièvre,...
, between Mauricie
Mauricie
Mauricie is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,855.22 km² and a 2006 census population of 258,928 residents...
and the Laurentides. Lanaudière attracts a good deal of interest from vacationers due to its unique character founded largely on the harmony between its culture and the surrounding natural environment. Lanaudière's area of 12413.73 square kilometres (4,793 sq mi) stretch northwest from a shoreline of 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) on the Saint Lawrence River. Lanaudière is generally rural, while the urban areas are generally concentrated in the south of the region, such as Repentigny
Repentigny, Quebec
Repentigny is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in the province of Quebec, located north of Montreal, on the lower end of the L'Assomption River and on the Saint Lawrence River. Repentigny and Charlemagne are the first towns off the island of Montreal.-History:...
, Terrebonne
Terrebonne, Quebec
Terrebonne is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in western Quebec, Canada. It is located on the north shores of the Rivière des Mille-Îles and of the Rivière des Prairies, North of Montreal and Laval....
and Berthierville
Berthierville, Quebec
Berthierville is a Canadian town located between Montreal and Trois-Rivières on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in the province of Quebec. Berthierville is the seat of D'Autray Regional County Municipality, and is served by Autoroute 40, and is the junction of Routes 138 and 158...
. The altitude rises as one goes northwards; it is 20 metres (65.6 ft) near the Saint Lawrence River to almost 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) at the top of mountains near Saint-Donat and Saint-Zénon
Saint-Zénon, Quebec
Saint-Zénon is a municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Matawinie Regional County Municipality.-Demographics:Population:* Population in 2006: 1379 * Population in 2001: 1180...
.
Lanaudière is made up of three distinct geographical groupings: the southern plain has cities and farming villages and includes many historical locations; the piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
in the centre has become a vacation spot due to its numerous lakes and natural attractions, and the Laurentian Plateau in the far north in the forested country is known for its fishing and hiking.
The three main ports of entry for Lanaudière are all in the south: Terrebonne, Repentigny and Berthierville.
Lanaudière's road network was developed according to three north-south axes (25-125, 31-131, 347), all of which have few links with the neighbouring regions. Even though this internal network is almost exclusively composed of secondary roads, it is well-designed for long automobile trips or for biking. Lanaudière has two wildlife preserves, the Rouge-Matawin and the Mastigouche, as well as part of the Mont Tremblant park. Further to the north, about an hour away from Saint-Michel-des-Saints
Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Quebec
Saint-Michel-des-Saints is a municipality in the Matawinie Regional County Municipality of Quebec, Canada. It is the largest and northern-most municipality in the Lanaudière region...
, there is the Atikamekw
Atikamekw
The Atikamekw are the indigenous inhabitants of the area they refer to as Nitaskinan , in the upper Saint-Maurice River valley of Quebec , Canada. Their population currently stands at around 4500. One of the main communities is Manawan, about northeast of Montreal. They have a tradition of...
indian reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
of Manawan
Manawan, Quebec
Manawan is a First Nation reserve on the south-western shores of Lake Métabeskéga in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada. It belongs to the Atikamekw de Manawan band of the Atikamekw Nation....
.
History
The region of Lanaudière owes its name to history, for it perpetuates the memory of Marie-Charlotte de Lanaudière, daughter of the lord of LavaltrieLavaltrie, Quebec
Lavaltrie is a city located within the D'Autray Regional County Municipality in the southern part of the region of Lanaudière, Quebec, Canada, northeast of Montreal outside of the suburban sprawl of the northern crown...
and wife of the businessman Barthélemy Joliette
Barthélemy Joliette
Barthélemy Joliette was a notary, businessman, seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada and Canada East....
, descendant of the famous explorer Louis Jolliet
Louis Jolliet
Louis Jolliet , also known as Louis Joliet, was a French Canadian explorer known for his discoveries in North America...
. Lanaudière evokes the lineage of the lords De Lanaudière who contributed, over seven generations, to the defence and the development of the French colonies in America, to that of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and to that of the region.
Subdivisions
Regional County Municipalities- D'Autray Regional County Municipality, QuebecD'Autray Regional County Municipality, Quebec300px|rightD'Autray is a regional county municipality in central Quebec, Canada. The regional county municipality seat is Berthierville. The municipality has a land area of 1,246.68 km² and a 2006 census population of 40,321 inhabitants. Its largest community is the city of Lavaltrie.-Cities...
- Joliette Regional County Municipality, QuebecJoliette Regional County Municipality, Quebec300px|rightJoliette is a regional county municipality in southwest-central Quebec, Canada. The regional county seat is Joliette. The municipality has a land area of 416.285 km² and a 2006 census population of 58,354 inhabitants....
- L'Assomption Regional County Municipality, QuebecL'Assomption Regional County Municipality, Quebec260px|rightL'Assomption is a regional county municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada. The seat is in L'Assomption. The region is named for the L'Assomption River which flows through the region from the north before emptying into the Saint Lawrence River in the south of the region at...
- Les Moulins Regional County Municipality, QuebecLes Moulins Regional County Municipality, QuebecLes Moulins is a regional county municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec.The census division, immediately north of Laval on the north shore of the Rivière des Mille-Îles, comprises the municipalities of Terrebonne and Mascouche...
- Matawinie Regional County Municipality, QuebecMatawinie Regional County Municipality, Quebec300px|rightMatawinie is a Regional County Municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada. Its seat is Rawdon. The population of the MRC according to the 2006 Census is 49,717-Municipalities:*Chertsey*Entrelacs*Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci*Rawdon...
- Montcalm Regional County Municipality, QuebecMontcalm Regional County Municipality, Quebec300px|rightMontcalm is a regional county municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec. Its seat is Sainte-Julienne. The population of the MRC according to the 2006 Census is 42,558-Municipalities:* Saint-Calixte* Saint-Esprit* Saint-Jacques...
Indian Reserve
- Manawan, QuebecManawan, QuebecManawan is a First Nation reserve on the south-western shores of Lake Métabeskéga in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada. It belongs to the Atikamekw de Manawan band of the Atikamekw Nation....
External links
- Portail régional de Lanaudière Official website