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| Portrait of the Region |
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Despite an
illustrious history and spectacular landscape, the Lower North Shore
is one of the least known parts of Quebec. Located some 1,600 kilometres
(994 miles) northeast of Montreal, it stretches 375 kilometres (233
miles) along the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Beginning
at the Natashquan River to the west, the Lower North Shore covers
remote territory beyond the end of the road. Route 138 begins again
at the village of Old Fort, and takes you to the eastern end of
the Lower North Shore and the border with Labrador.
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The Lower North Shore is
a wild stretch of coastline dotted with islands, passages, and sandy
beaches. The Gulf of St. Lawrence resembles the ocean here, with
whales, seabirds and the occasional iceberg that drifts down from
Greenland. Fast-flowing salmon rivers cross boulder fields and tundra.
The natural resources of this seemingly barren land have attracted
many people for thousands of years, from the ancient Maritime Archaic
Indians to today’s French, English and Innu-speaking inhabitants. Today, some 5,000 residents of the Lower North Shore make this isolated
and grandiose landscape our home. We call it the Coast, and refer
to ourselves as Coasters. |
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