Miquelon-Langlade
Encyclopedia
Miquelon-Langlade is the less populated of the two communes (municipalities) making up the French overseas collectivity
of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, in North America
. They are located to the south of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean
. The communal seat is the settlement of Miquelon
in the north of Miquelon Island.
s: long strips of sand dune. These islands are: Le Cap, Miquelon Island
(Grand Miquelon) and Langlade Island
(Petite Miquelon).
Miquelon Island has a large lagoon
known as the Grand Barachois
which is host to a large population of seals and other wildlife. Miquelon is also a well known destination for bird watching.
origin and means "Michael", as several fishermen with this name were established in the island. In 1579, the names Micquetõ, Micquelle appeared for the first time in Martin de Hoyarçabal
's navigational pilot. The name evolved over time into Miclon, Micklon, and finally Miquelon.
and Acadian
ancestry. The population of Miquelon-Langlade was 616 at the January 2006 local census, 615 of whom lived on Miquelon, and only one of whom lived on Langlade (this sole inhabitant, Charles Lafitte, died in July 2006).
and is served by Miquelon Airport
which is located adjacent to the settlement of Miquelon
. The airport is served by Air Saint-Pierre
with flights both to Saint Pierre Airport
and Canada
.
Collectivité d'outre-mer
The French overseas collectivities , like the French regions are first-order administrative divisions of France. The COMs include some former French overseas territories and other French overseas entities with a particular status, all of which became COMs by constitutional reform on 28 March...
of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. They are located to the south of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. The communal seat is the settlement of Miquelon
Miquelon, Miquelon-Langlade
Miquelon is the capital of Miquelon-Langlade a commune in the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It is located along a tombolo type isthmus that connects the formerly separate island of Le Cap with the northwestern part of Miquelon Island...
in the north of Miquelon Island.
Geography
Miquelon-Langlade is made up of three geologically distinct islands bound together by tomboloTombolo
A tombolo, from the Italian tombolo, derived from the Latin tumulus, meaning 'mound,' and sometimes translated as ayre , is a deposition landform in which an island is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar. Once attached, the island is then known as a tied island...
s: long strips of sand dune. These islands are: Le Cap, Miquelon Island
Miquelon Island
Miquelon Island is one of the three main islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It is connected to the similarly-sized Langlade Island by a thin tombolo sandspit known as La Dune, which in turn forms a part of the boundary of the Grand Barachois.Miquelon and Langlade form the commune of...
(Grand Miquelon) and Langlade Island
Langlade Island
Langlade Island, also referred to by foreigners as "Little Miquelon", is part of the commune of Miquelon-Langlade, in the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon...
(Petite Miquelon).
Miquelon Island has a large lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
known as the Grand Barachois
Grand Barachois
Grand Barachois is a large natural lagoon in Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It lies immediately south of Miquelon Island, and is formed largely by the 12 kilometre-long tombolo of La Dune....
which is host to a large population of seals and other wildlife. Miquelon is also a well known destination for bird watching.
History
The name Miquelon is of BasqueBasque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
origin and means "Michael", as several fishermen with this name were established in the island. In 1579, the names Micquetõ, Micquelle appeared for the first time in Martin de Hoyarçabal
Martin de Hoyarçabal
Martin de Hoyarçabal was a French Basque mariner. Little is generally known about his life. He was born in Ciboure, in the Iparralde, the French Basque Country. He is recognized for publishing one of the first Newfoundland pilots, a book which describes places and distances to aid sailors in...
's navigational pilot. The name evolved over time into Miclon, Micklon, and finally Miquelon.
Demographics
The population of Miquelon-Langlade is mainly of BasqueBasque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
and Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
ancestry. The population of Miquelon-Langlade was 616 at the January 2006 local census, 615 of whom lived on Miquelon, and only one of whom lived on Langlade (this sole inhabitant, Charles Lafitte, died in July 2006).
Transportation
Miquelon can be reached by boat or by plane from Saint-PierreSaint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
Saint-Pierre is the capital of the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. Saint-Pierre is the more populated of the two communes making up Saint Pierre and Miquelon.-Geography:...
and is served by Miquelon Airport
Miquelon Airport
There are no direct flights from France. Connecting flights to Paris are made via Montreal's Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.The airport's runways are capable of handling turboprop or small jet aircraft only.- External links :* *...
which is located adjacent to the settlement of Miquelon
Miquelon, Miquelon-Langlade
Miquelon is the capital of Miquelon-Langlade a commune in the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It is located along a tombolo type isthmus that connects the formerly separate island of Le Cap with the northwestern part of Miquelon Island...
. The airport is served by Air Saint-Pierre
Air Saint-Pierre
Air Saint-Pierre is an airline based in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a French overseas collectivity. The airline operates scheduled services between the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon-Langlade and to Canada. Its main base is Saint-Pierre Airport.- History :Air Saint-Pierre was...
with flights both to Saint Pierre Airport
Saint Pierre Airport
Saint-Pierre Airport is a regional airport located south of Saint-Pierre, in the French overseas community of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, off the eastern coast of Canada near Newfoundland....
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Tourism and travel links
- Tourism and Travel Resources for St Pierre & Miquelon
- Frequently Asked Questions Tourism and Travel
- Map of Miquelon
- Le Phare: Association of Tourism Professionals
- Local Airline Air Saint-Pierre
- Ferry service for Saint-Pierre, Miquelon and Fortune Newfoundland