Keywords Capes & Peninsulas

The rich supplies of codfish, found in great numbers only a few kilometres from shore, were long the focus of the Gaspé economy; every year, for centuries, hundreds of tonnes of fish were shipped to Europe, South America and the US. The wide, stony beaches and reliable sun and winds of Gaspé were perfect for dry-curing the cod; until refrigeration arrived in the 20th century, this was the only means to ensure that the fish would endure the long voyages to market without spoiling.

In the French period only a few fishermen settled in Gaspé permanently. When James WOLFE and his forces arrived in 1758, they found about 400 permanent residents on the coast. He destroyed their homes and possessions and sent most of them back to France. Still, a few managed to hide in the woods, continuing to live in Gaspé after it became British territory in 1763. They were joined by several families of ACADIANS who had avoided the British deportation campaign in Nova Scotia. In 1784 about 400 English-speaking LOYALISTS, refugees from the American Revolution, came to settle in Gaspé. Thereafter, few immigrants arrived, though the population grew vigorously by natural means.

It was a long time before the people of Gaspé escaped dependence on the fishing industry. A little mixed farming was practised in Bonaventure County, but it was not until the 20th century that the forest and mineral resources of the interior were seriously exploited. Construction of a railway connection only began in the 1890s. In recent years tourism has become an important source of employment - particularly after the collapse of the COD fishery in the early 1990s. The rivers of the Gaspé are clear and are well known for SALMON. Thousands of visitors come to see the famous PERCÉ Rock, the great bird colonies of ÎLE BONAVENTURE, Parc de la GASPÉSIE in the rugged interior and FORILLON NATIONAL PARK.

Gaspé Peninsula, Satellite Image
This satellite image of the Gaspé Peninsula in eastern Québec shows that it is a rugged extension of the Appalachian Mountain chain, which stretches all the way to Alabama (courtesy Canada Centre for Remote Sensing).

Gaspé Peninsula

Percé Rock
Percé is one of Canada's foremost tourist attractions and an important bird sanctuary in eastern Québec (photo by Thomas Kitchin).

Author DAVID LEE

Links to Other Sites
Tour Canada from Space
This website features an interactive map linked to spetacular images of various Canadian locations taken by Canadian research satellites. From Natural Resources Canada.

Gaspé
The official website of the City of Gaspé.

Micmac Nation of Gespeg
The website for the Micmac Nation of Gespeg.

Musée de la Gaspésie
The Musée de la Gaspésie is anchored at the spot overlooking Gaspé Bay where Jacques Cartier took possession of New France in 1534. The museum features an extensive exhibition about Jacques Cartier’s first voyage in the New World.