Madeleine Islands (Canada)

The Acadians flag, French community created by French settlers who reached the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

The island of Havre aux Maisons (House Harbour Island), one of the largest and most inhabited islands of the archipelago

One of the peculiarities of this archipelago, is to be inhabited by communities with different language and traditions

Panorama of Havre aux Maisons island (French language and culture)

Houses of Havre aux Maisons island, inhabited mainly by peasants in the interior and by fishermen along the coast

In the archipelago, the light change a lot during the days, also the color of the nature

Havre aux Maisons island

The houses, scattered on the islands, are inhabited mainly by peasants in the interior, and by fishermen along the coast

The wooden houses are painted in bright colors and often, the paint is what remains after having painted the fishing boats

The wooden houses are painted in bright colors and often, the paint is what remains after having painted the fishing boats

All the wooden houses, are painted in bright colors often in red, blue and yellow

The wooden houses are painted in bright colors and often, the paint is what remains after having painted the fishing boats

A letter box (left) and the barrel sailing, the mail system used to send the letters entrusting the barrel to the marine currents

The archipelago consists of 6 islands connected by bridges for 150 km from north to south

A single paved road runs through the archipelago, all the others roads are sand tracks (4x4 only)

Hundreds kilometers of hiking and biking trails are available for tourists visiting the archipelago

The great nature reserve that covers much of Grosse Island in the northeast of the archipelago

The great nature reserve that covers much of Grosse Island in the northeast of the archipelago

The great nature reserve on Grosse Island

Grosse Island. The soft carpet of moss and lichen covering the ground

Beaches on the east coast of Grande Entree island, near Cape Old Hardy

Beaches on the east coast of Grande Entree island, near Cape Old Hardy

East coast of Grande Entree island, near Cape Old Hardy

East coast of Grande Entree island, near Cape Old Hardy

A skeleton of a whale on the beach de l’Hopital. Island of Cap aux Meules

Fisherman’s house on the east coast of the Grande Entree island

Port of Cape Old Hardy. Island of Grande Entrée

Lobstermen and shellfish, one of the main economic activities of the archipelago

The calm waters of the lagoon of Baie du Bassin (Havre Aubert island)

Baie du Bassin Lagoon on the island of Havre Aubert

Havre aux maisons Island. House of smoke, the house to kipper the herrings

Havre aux maisons Island. Herrings kippers and the house of smoke, where are kippered the herrings

Havre aux maisons Island. The house of smoke where are kippered the herrings

Havre aux maisons Island. The house of smoke where are kippered the herrings

Havre Aubert Island. Handicrafts produced by working a mixture composed of resins and sand of the beaches

The archipelago is on a big platforms of salt. Salt that is mined under the sea level and exported all over the North America

Mines of salt. The salt is exported in Canada and North America

One of the sports on the islands, is the excursions with kayaks along the spectacular eastern coast of Havre aux Maisons

Kayaking along the spectacular eastern coast of Havre aux Maisons

Kayaking along the spectacular eastern coast of Havre aux Maisons

Kayaking along the spectacular eastern coast of Havre aux Maisons

Cap aux Meules Island. The red cliffs along the West Coast

The west coast of the island of Cap aux Meules

Cap aux Meules Island. The cliffs of Belle Anse (West Coast)

The red cliff of Cap aux Meules Island

Havre aux Maison Island. The east coast

Havre aux Maison Island. The east coast

Cap aux Meules Island. The lighthouse of Cap Herisse

Where is the Madeleine Archipelago

By: Carlo Piccinelli

Madeleine Islands on Google Maps.
This small archipelago, located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is a real geological oddity. The sand islands, rest on gigantic platforms of salt. This geological oddity certainly it was not known to the first British and French settlers who settled on the seven islands that make up the archipelago and could not possibly know that salt, now extracted hundreds of meters below sea level, would become a major product of export of the archipelago. The settlers soon discovered the underwater world rich in lobsters and shellfish and for many years, fishing was the main activity of the inhabitants of the archipelago. Activities that still today, together with the tourism, generates jobs and income. Even the culture of the archipelago is particular: there are two cultures, English and French with different languages and traditions deeply rooted. A difference that until a few decades ago, generated rivalries and conflicts. Even today the Acadiens, descendants of the French settlers, kept their ancient traditions alive and separated from the english traditions of other islands. An archipelago to see, open to the sports and adventures but also opened to the cultural tourism. A journey very special to discover a little paradise in the middle of St. Lawrence Gulf.
Useful links for more informations:
www.quebecmaritime.ca
www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com
www.quebecweb.com
www.iles-de-la-madeleine.worldweb.com