The archipelago of the Îles de la Madeleine
is located in the middle of the Gulf of St-Lawrence, or more precisely: 215 km from the Gaspé peninsula, 105 km from Prince Edward Island and 95 km from Cape Breton Island. The Island chain takes the shape of an extended fishhook stretching across a distance of 65 km in a south-west/ north-easterly direction, latitude close to that of La Malbaie (Charlevoix) and of La Tuque (Mauricie). Islanders live in the Atlantic Time Zone, one hour ahead of mainland Québec.
It is now 1h17 in the Maritimes.
The archipelago comprises about a dozen islands, six of which are interconnected by long, thin, sand dunes. The names of the islands (from north to south) are:
Île de la Grande Entrée and
Grosse Île,
Île aux Loups,
Île du Havre aux Maisons,
Île du Cap aux Meules, and
Île du Havre Aubert. Two other islands are part of the archipelago as well:
Entry Island, inhabited and located 10 km east of Havre Aubert; and
Île Brion, an uninhabited island lying 16 km north of Grosse Île (see area map p. 2-3). In January 2002, the islands were grouped into a single municipality: the Municipality of the Îles de la Madeleine.
There are other smaller islands and islets, which are part of the Îles de la Madeleine archipelago, some of which are Rocher aux Oiseaux, Île aux Loups-marins, Île Paquet, and Rocher du Corps Mort.
A mild maritime climate
The maritime climate enjoyed by the Islands is markedly different from that of the mainland. The huge water masses that circle the archipelago temper the weather and create milder conditions in each season. On the Islands, winter is mild, spring is cool, there are no heat waves in summer, and fall is wonderfully warm.
The Îles de la Madeleine have the least amount of annual frost in the Province of Québec. The warm breezes of summer persist well into September. The ever-present winds give the Islands a unique climate. The air is pure and sweet, perfect for a health cure! In the middle of August, the temperature of the water surrounding the Islands can reach up to 18° Celsius (63°F) and as much as 20° Celsius in the lagoons and bays.
Constant winds greatly influence the climate of the Islands. Stronger in winter than in summer, wind speeds vary between 17 and 40 km/hr (9 to 22 knots/hr). In summer, the prevailing winds blow from the southwest, and in winter, from the northwest. The archipelago has everything it takes: climate, wind, many different bodies of water and more than 300 km of beautiful beaches - all the essential elements to create a wind, surf and water sport lover's paradise.
Geology
Some 320 million years ago, before continental drift began to separate the land masses, the Îles de la Madeleine were located close to the equator in a basin which was actually below sea level and where the average ambient temperature was 38°C (100°F). Seawater flowed often into this basin and its evaporation caused layers of salt to accumulate on its floor. Over time, this layer of accumulated salt grew to a depth of 5 km. Meanwhile, the Îles de la Madeleine started their long migration towards the north, eventually ending up in their current location in the heart of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Geological activity subsequently covered the salt with another 4 km of rock and lava.
2 to 5 million years ago, the pressure of the rocky layer overlaying the salt raised its temperature to nearly 300°C (572°F). The salt, now more fluid and malleable than the rocky layer directly above, tends to rise towards the surface. Pressure from rising salt lifts the overlaying rock, creating the famous salt domes supporting the Îles de la Madeleine.
Two typical geomorphological features are typical of the landforms in the Magdalen archipelago: rocky outcrops and sand spits. The rocks of the main islands are composed primarily of volcanic rock, argillaceous rock and sandstone sediments. The rocky cores are linked by sandy spits whose surface always has been and always will be affected by the winds which created the dunes, some of which, called "buttereaux" reach up to 15 m in height.
An economy based on fishing and tourism
The primary industry of the Islands is
its fisheries. In order of importance, commercial fishing comprises:
lobster,
snow crab,
pelagic fish (mackerel, herring),
scallops,
ground fish (cod, ocean perch, flounder and halibut), plus other species such as mussels, whelks, spiny dogfish, and surf clams). The fishing industry leaves its mark all over the Islands. Visiting tourists will enjoy walking on the wharves and in the ports, fishing trips, chatting with the fishermen, regional cooking, and the local dialect.
Tourism is the second most important industry on the islands. Tourism is growing fast, attracting visitors looking for peace and quiet, in
an unspoiled natural setting, with a chance to experience a
unique culture and heritage.
Salt mining is another important economic activity which brings major revenues to the local economy. This salt is used during for de-icing roads in winter.
The first inhabitants of the archipelago survived because
agriculture made them self-sufficient. In the 1970s, there was a considerable decline in agricultural activity, but now it is considered an expanding industry. Local produce includes eggs, cheese, beef and honey and, in season, local market gardeners offer vegetables and herbs.
Look for products marked
« Le Bon goût frais des Îles » (the good fresh taste of the Islands).
