Canada/ Québec

North America / Canada / Québec 2 — 3 it’s in our nature

In Québec, we’re lucky to have nature at our doorstep and four seasons with ever-changing colours. A wealth of nature, an immense fjord and countless lakes. Our river 2 is like a sea. Our forests — extend farther than the eye 3 can see. Our landscapes are majestic, and our wildlife is all around us. What you’re holding is but a sneak peek of Québec’s natural wonders. For more information, visit us at: QuebecOriginal.com/outdoors

North America / Canada / Québec take in the sheer expanse

We arrived yesterday at a national park and we’re enjoying the sights. We spent the morning following the marked nature trails, and the vistas are incredible. We saw a beaver dam and a mama moose and her baby. In the evening, we went on a guided walk to hear the owls in the middle of the woods and see the millions of stars overhead.

25 national parks 1 park on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 4 World Biosphere Reserves.

shooting stars The best place to see them is at the International Dark-Sky Reserve in the parc national du Mont-Mégantic.

most beautiful in the world The sunsets at Bic are renowned for them.

GR-A1 The International Appalachian Trail: the first GR Trail in North America, a 650 km (404 mi) loop leading all the way to the Chic-Choc Mountains in the parc national de la Gaspésie. the eye of the crystal

Last night we stayed in a chic boutique hotel in Montréal. A two-hour flight later, we landed in Kuujjuaq in the midst of a moonlike landscape. We came to do some trekking in the parc national des Pingualuit. Tomorrow, we will be on the edge of a crater right in the heart of the tundra. Exciting and surreal.

4 — 5

1,646 m 3.4 km from the 64th ±430,000 caribou Our highest summit, in That’s the diameter to the 87th parallel You can see the migration the heart of the Torngat of the meteorite-created In Nunavik, you can see of the herds from the tundra mountain range. Pingualuit crater, the water the aurora borealis almost of the Ungava Peninsula and of which is crystal clear. every day. the Torngat Mountains to the edge of the boreal forest. snow locomotive

The harness is taut, we’re eager to get going. We’re learning the art of “mushing.”* It’s amazing, the pull of the pack. We race like the wind along the lake, the boreal forest, with cold cheeks and warm hearts. Freedom.

6 — 7

30 km (18.6 mi) The average daily distance travelled in a dogsledding expedition. The sled can reach speeds of 30 km/h (18.6 mi/h) over this distance. native spirit

We’ve travelled the rivers in birch bark canoes, tasted salmon fresh out of the smokehouse, baked bannock, danced in a longhouse.”* We were in tune with nature and heard the wisdom of the elders. A beautiful lesson in hospitality and sharing.

6 — 7

11 Aboriginal nations Living in 55 communities between the 45th and

62nd parallels.

11 languages The Wendats say Kwe, in Innu it’s Kuei Kuei and in Inuktitut it’s Ullukkut. Each nation has its own greeting, and its own ancestral treasures. experience the extraordinary 8 — outdoors in 9 total comfort at QuebecOriginal.com/outdoors among giants

We glide our kayaks along a unique fjord. We feel privileged to be here. We see the mist rise off the early morning water, rippling with bubbles here and there. A whale, a family of belugas. They are here with us, so close. 10 — 11

± 100 km (62 mi) That’s the length of the Saguenay Fjord, the only intracontinental fjord in the world, the southernmost one on the planet and the only navigable one in all of North America.

13 species The largest of the 13 whale species in the fjord, the blue whale can weigh between 75 and 130 tons! discover nature tourism 12 — experts’ best-kept 13 secrets at QuebecOriginal.com/outdoors northern flicker its call: “wik-wik-wik”

strawberries Île d’Orléans

fly agaric look, but don’t touch! purple coneflower medicinal plant prized by the Aboriginals matsutake (pine mushroom) fauna and owl snowy avian emblem Québecof

snowshoe hare atoca iroquois flora for cranberry moose Aboriginal symbol self-esteem of

spruce try spruce beer

Labrador tea plant nordic plant with a strong scent

white trillium covers sugar maple forest floors

acorns

polar bear in Inuktitut: “nanuq,” which means “eternal wanderer.”

sugar maple we make maple syrup with its sap chanterelle look for it in coniferous forests

lobster bobcat Gaspésie northern

flicker’s feather

americanus ursus ursus black bear

antlers belonging to the white-tailed deer

northern red oak

14 — great blue heron the largest heron 15 in North America

trumpet chanterelles “amaruk” “amaruk” in Inuktitut grey wolf

blue whale

largest animal Madeleine Îles-de-la- wild oyster in the world

blue jay brook trout

mallard blueberries duck feather Saguenay– Lac-Saint-Jean 16

legend

unesco national sites parks

position in North America 16 — 17 Québec

Sept-Îles

R IVE 3 ENCE R 2 WR . LA 5 ST Gaspé 7 15 Saguenay 9 Tadoussac 18 23 10 Rivière-du-Loup Îles-de-la- 13 1 Madeleine 24 12 6 PRINCE EDWARD Québec NEW BRUNSWICK ISLAND 22 Trois-Rivières 14 21 4 ONTARIO Gatineau 11 19 17 Montréal Ottawa Sherbrooke 8 20 NOVA SCOTIA

New York Boston Toronto 0 100 200 km

UNITED STATES must-know information about Québec

the national snowmobile indian parks what: summer what: Québec is renowned for the quality what: We have 25 national parks. All are of its 33,700 km (20,900 miles) of In autumn, our landscape comes protected sites, areas to have fun well-maintained, safe, marked trails. alive in multicoloured splendour. outdoors, providing direct access You’re sure to have fun, whether it’s Our trees blush scarlet, golden to nature. a short ride of a few hours or a longer and brilliant russet. expedition with a professional guide. when: when: Open all year long so that we can enjoy when: From mid-September to mid-October As soon as the weather permits! every season outdoors to the fullest. where: where: where : Everywhere, but especially The four corners of Québec The four corners of Québec on mountaintops: fall hikes in the forest are extraordinary.

1 — Parc marin du Saguenay–Saint-Laurent outfitter * 2 — Parc national d’Aiguebelle what: glossary 3 — Parc national d’Anticosti Our outfitters offer extraordinary 4 — Parc national de Frontenac to mush: 5 — Parc national de la Gaspésie outdoor activities in winter and To travel by dogsled. The word comes 6 — Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier summer, such as fishing and wildlife from the old Canadian dogsledders who 16 7 — Parc national de la Pointe-Taillon viewing. Enjoy a change of scenery, would say “marche” in French (meaning 8 — Parc national de la Yamaska some rest and relaxation, and “walk”), which became “mush” in English. — 9 — Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure- unforgettable memories. Our guides et-du-Rocher-Percé will even take you to observe the black bannock: 17 10 — Parc national de Miguasha bear in its natural habitat. North American Native flatbread 11 — Parc national de Plaisance with no yeast. 12 — Parc national des Grands-Jardins when: 13 — Parc national des Hautes- All year long longhouse: Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie Structure typical of the Huron 14 — Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville where: and Iroquois nations of the North. 15 — Parc national des Monts-Valin The four corners of Québec 16 — Parc national des Pingualuit 17 — Parc national d’Oka 18 — Parc national du Bic photos 19 — Parc national du Mont-Mégantic Aventure Écotourisme 20 — Parc national du Mont-Orford ©Tourisme Québec except for: 21 — Parc national du Mont-Saint-Bruno Québec p. 4 ©Sépaq/R. Boucher p. 5 ©Heiko Wittenborn 22 — Parc national du Mont-Tremblant p. 7 ©Communauté de Waskaganish/I. Diamond 23 — Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay Here, we’re well equipped to receive p. 8 (down, right) ©Pourvoirie du club Hisanna 24 — Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata guests. We have quality installations, p. 9 (up, right) ©Sépaq/D. Coulomb MassawFoto 25 — Parc national Kuururjuaq safe, well-maintained trails, and activities p. 9 (down, right) ©Photo Sépaq p. 9 (up, left) ©Stéphane Groleau supervised by experienced local guides p. 12 (up, right) ©Hugo Lavictoire who are specialists in their environment. polar bear Aventure Écotourisme Québec is observation a renowned adventure tourism and what: ecotourism association that promotes Picture yourself in the Great North, quality, safety and respect for nature. following the tracks of a polar bear. 22 tourist Now that’s a foreign experience. And it’s regions exactly what Inuit Adventure proposes. when: 22 places Winter to play where: In Québec’s Great North, in Nunavik

it’s in our nature

A population of talkative, curious and informal bon vivants, who love nothing more than a good laugh. Folks with an international reputation for creativity. Dazzling blue against pristine winter white and endless shades of green in summer. No fewer than 135,326 km2 (52,000 sq. mi.) of protected areas, boreal, mixed and deciduous forests, taiga and tundra to explore. Maple crème brûlée, birch bark smoked salmon. Modernity with a dash of yesteryear. Lasting memories. Québec? Let’s go! 18 — 19 20 — QuebecOriginal.com/outdoors NP

Legal deposit – Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, December 2013 ISBN: 978-2-550-69585-1 978-2-550-69586-8 (PDF) Printed in Québec (Canada) – 94514