Photos

Sunset on the St. Lawrence

This photo was taken at Ile Verte (Green Island) in the St. Lawrence Estuary, looking across to the so-called north shore, while in fact looking NW (hence the sunset right across in summer). The beautiful and tranquil Ile Verte is known for its lighthouse, the oldest on the St. Lawrence, overlooking a region a difficult navigation. On the other side of the estuary, the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord divides the regions of Charlevoix and Côte-Nord. At the confluence of the Saguenay and St. Lawrence is the picturesque village of Tadoussac, the first French settlement in this part of the world. It’s a popular place with tourists (festivals, whales watching, fjord tours, etc.). Much of this region of the estuary is part of the Parc marin Saguenay-Saint-Laurent (Saguenay-Saint-Lawrence marine park) established in 1998. The bottom topography and the fjord create exceptional oceanographic conditions promoting significant biological productivity and diversity. More than fifteen species of marine mammals have been reported.

Some years ago, a well known American travel magazine presented its selection of the 10 best places for sunset. Amazingly for me living not so far away, a riverine village of this region (about 30 km upstream from Ile Verte) figured on this short list. I had of course often experienced the beauty of the Bas-St-Laurent (Lower St. Lawrence) sunsets, but had never realized how they can compare well with those of many elsewhere. This particular one was perhaps not the most spectacular, but it was sure a good moment.