Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve

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Gaetan Lebret

Mingan National Park Reserve is a national park reserve on the North Shore of Quebec, Canada.

Understand

The Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve of Canada is comprised of roughly 1,000 islands and coastal inlets scattered between the mouth of the Saint-Jean River (near Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan) to the west, and the Aguanus River (near Aguanish), to the east. The archipelago has a surface area of about 90 km², while the reserve has an area of 151 km² (58 sq mi). It was established in 1984.

Park Information and/or reservation

phone: +1 418-538-3285, +1 418-949-2126

History

Landscape

Paul Gierszewski

The islands formed as the continent slowly rose after the last glaciation. Over the course of the last few thousand years, the limestone rocks were slowly eroded by the waves, the changing sea level and the winds, as well as seasonal freezing and thawing. The result is a unique set of limestone sculptures, which form the largest group of such monoliths in Canada.

Flora and fauna

Animals that inhabit this national park are beavers, river otters, muskrats, silver foxes, red squirrels, snowshoe hares, red foxes, ermines, certain species of bats and a number of small rodents. Occasionally, black bears and moose can be found on certain islands near the coast. Birds found on the islands include warblers, buntings, bald eagles, ospreys, passerines, eiders, terns, puffins, razorbills, and shorebirds. Marine animals that inhabit offshore are grey seals, minke whales, dolphins, harbour seals, humpback whales, porpoises, fin whales, and harp seals.

Climate

Get in

Quebec City is approximately 870 km from Havre-Saint-Pierre, while Montreal is roughly 15 hours away.

By car

Take Highway 138 from Quebec (approximately 870 km from Quebec to Havre-Saint-Pierre).

By bus

Autobus Intercar links Quebec to Havre-Saint-Pierre via Sept-Iles (Information: Ste-Foy +1 418-650-0087; Quebec +1 418-525-3000; Baie-Comeau +1 418-296-6921; Sept-Iles +1 418-962-2126).

By plane

From Havre-Saint-Pierre: Air Liaison (+1-888-589-8972)
From Sept-Îles:

Air Canada (+1-888-247-2262)
Air Labrador (+1-800-563-3042)
Pascan Aviation (+1-888-885-8777)
Provincial Airlines (+1-866-962-0380)

By boat

The Croisières Relais Nordik line links Rimouski, Sept-Îles, Port-Menier, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Anticosti Island and the Lower North Shore with the Bella Desgagnés (+1-800-463-0680).

Fees and permits

Daily admission (2018):

Adult $5.80
Senior $4.90
Youth and children free
Family/group $11.75

Seasonal admission/before June 30:

Adult $29.40/$14.70
Senior $24.50/$12.20
Youth and children free
Family/group/$58.90/$36.80

See

Limestone monoliths: The islands formed as the continent slowly rose after the last glaciation. Over the course of the last few thousand years, the limestone rocks were slowly eroded by the waves, the changing sea level and the winds, as well as seasonal freezing and thawing. The result is a unique set of limestone sculptures, which form the largest group of such monoliths in Canada.

Do

Excursions with Services Maritimes Boréale

phone: +1 418-538-2865

address: Pélagie Portal Cormier, 1010 Anciens Walk, Havre-Saint-Pierre
3- to 4-hour tours and day-long cruises offered June to September to see sea birds, monoliths and islands.

Buy, eat, and drink

There are no services on the islands. See [[Havre-Saint-Pierre>

Sleep

Lodging

In Havre-Saint-Pierre.
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| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
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| content=Overnight accommodations are available in the lighthouse keeper’s house or the assistant lighthouse keeper’s home from late June 23 to August.
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