Gaspé Peninsula Photos

The Gaspésie or Gaspé Peninsula is a peninsula extending along the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Gaspesie is separated from New Brunswick on its southern side by the Chaleur Bay and the Restigouche River. The name Gaspé comes from a Mi'kmaq word gespeg “land's end”.

Sea cliffs dominate the peninsula's northern shore. Cap Gaspé, jutting into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is the easternmost point of the peninsula. Its interior is rugged, being a northward continuation of the Appalachian Mountains called the Chic-Chocs, with Mont Jacques-Cartier at 1,268 metres (4,160 ft) the peninisula's highest peak. The interior portions of the peninsula are dominated by the Chic-Choc Mountains, part of the Notre Dame Mountains, an extension of the Appalachian Mountains.

The economy of the peninsula has historically been focused on fishing, agriculture and forestry.

The Gaspé peninsula is one of Quebec's most popular tourism regions. Route 132 circles the region, with one branch following the coast and the other cutting across it at Sainte-Flavie, and a section of the International Appalachian Trail travels through the peninsula's mountains.

The Gaspé National Park (Parc national de la Gaspésie) is located in the Chic-Chocs, and Forillon National Park is at the peninsula's northeastern tip.

Percé Rock (Rocher Percé, in French), an island pierced by a natural arch, is located just offshore of the peninsula's eastern end.

The Percé Rock formation has about 150 fossil species.  Next to the rock is Bonaventure Island, and together they form Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé.  At low tide, the rock is approachable on foot.

The rock and the bird colony in Bonaventure Island is about a 75-minute trip from Percé by boat. Visits to the rock are restricted to the period from May 28 to October 12. During such visits, park guides provide information on beach creatures, the geology of Percé Rock, also called the "cathedral of limestone that rose from the Equator", and the fossils found there. The rock mass is a monolith estimated at 5 million tonnes. It has been inferred that at the current erosion rate (about 300 tonnes of mass per year lost to the action of water and wind), it will disappear in about 16,000 years from now. In view of its tendency to collapse, it is dangerous to venture close to the rock on foot during low tide. The top of the rock is not accessible. Snowy gannets, silvery gulls, black cormorants and other species of birds perch there.

French surrealist poet André Breton (1896–1966) visited Gaspé in October 1944 and recorded his impressions of the visit in Arcanum17, "a hymn of hope, renewal, and resurrection".

Flooding of the Matapedia River, Gaspesie, circa 1910, source of the photo: Musée McCord

At picturesque Perce. A lovely panorama from the North-West, with Perce village in the foreground. Perce Rock and Bonaventure island Bird Sanctuary in the distance. Old postcard

Amqui City, aérial view, source : Lands and Forests Department of Quebec, Compagnie Aérienne Franco-Canadienne

Belle Plage Mottel. Salmon Smoke House. 50 modern units, each one with private bath, thermostat, phone. Sprinkler system, Hi-Fi, radio and TV. Excellent cuisine, specializing in Seafood. Enjoy your afternoon tea in our Rustik Art Shop, courtesy of the house. Admire beautiful sunsets on the sea. Visit our own Salmon Smokehouse. Golf privileges, Salmon fishing with reservations only on the North Shore (outfitters). Montreal-Quebec 150 miles. Québec-Matane 240 miles. Halfway to Percé from Quebec. Old postcard

Royal George Stemear in face of the Gaspesie, circa 1920. Source: Ville de Montreal

Battery Park Hotel in Gaspe, postcard circa 1930

Bonaventure Island, source : Département des Terres et Forêts du Québec, Compagnie aérienne Franco-canadienne, Montréal, Nicole Séguin collection

Curing fish in Gaspesie, ancient postcard

Fishing. A 75 lb Codfish, Bonaventure Island, ancient postcard

Seabirds and Fishermen, South Beach, near Perce, postcard

Star Motel and Tourist Home at Perce, postcard circa 1970

Perce from Malbaie, Gaspé, postcard

View of Town Perce, old postcard

Mont Louis, town of St-Maxime-de-Mont-Louis, source : Departement of Lands and Forests of Quebec, collection Nicole Seguin

Covered bridge at New Richmond, built in 1915. Photo vers 1972

Hotel-Motel Perce-Sur-Mer. Perce's most distinctive Hotel and Motel accommodating over 180 guests. Wall to wall carpet. Radio, telephone and television, many in color. Outstanding restaurant overlooking Perce Rock. a postcard, circe 1970

Chandler, the second city in Gaspesie. Departement of Lands and Forests of Quebec, collection Nicole Seguin

Town of Cap-Chat, in the Haute-Gaspesie county, in the 1930ies. Source de l'Image : Département des Terres et Forêts de Qubéec, Compagnie aérienne Franco-Canadienne-Montréal

X-ray car in Chandler in 1948. Source : Office du film du Québec, fonds Ministère de la culture et des communications

Adams Motel at Gaspé, an ancient postcard

View of the Perce rock as seen from the long sandy South Beach, an old postcard