Québec: A Land of Contrasts

Located in northeastern North America, Québec extends over a vast area of 1,667,926 km2 (643,819 sq. mi), bordered by the United States, the arctic waters, Ontario and New Brunswick. It is seven times bigger than the United Kingdom and more than twice the size of Texas.

The mighty St. Lawrence River, which ranks among the greatest rivers of the world, flows for more than 1000 km (600 mi) through the southern part of the province.  Québec’s landscape is ever-changing with its fertile flood plain stretching from the Laurentian Mountains in the north to the Appalachian chain in the south, and vast expanses of forest, taiga and tundra, dotted with more than a million lakes and thousands of rivers.  All these different habitats are home to an amazing number of species of flora and fauna. 

Québec is a land of contrasts, too, when it comes to climate.  Brisk winters with plenty of snow are followed by gloriously refreshing springtimes, hot summers and the flamboyant hues of autumn.  Quebecers have put their celebrated creative flair to the test and come up with a multitude of ways to enjoy and share the best that each season has to offer.

450 Years of History

For thousands of years, the area that is now Québec was inhabited by Indians and Inuit.  Jacques Cartier landed in the Gaspé peninsula in 1534, and claimed the territory in the name of the King of France, calling it New France.  When Québec City fell to the British in 1759, the  colony came under British rule.  Since then, the descendants of the original French- and English- speaking settlers have been joined by immigrants from the four corners of the earth, bringing with them new customs and lifestyles that have truly enriched Québec’s cultural mosaic.  While French is the language of the majority, English is spoken and understood almost everywhere, particularly in the towns and cities.  Today, most of the approximately seven million people in Québec live along the St. Lawrence  River.  Close to 60,000 Indians, belonging to ten different nations, and 8,000 Inuit live in some fifty villages dotted throughout the province, from the 45th to the 62nd parallels.

Québec enjoys a high standard of living.  It boasts abundant energy and natural resources, along with world-renowned engineering, transportation, telecommunications, aeronautics and aerospace, computer science, biotechnology firms, research centres and medical institutions.  The province exports 40% of its total production, mainly to the United States.

Modern-day Québec is a dynamic, outward-looking society, with its gaze fixed firmly on the future.

For more info on Quebec, take a look at this site: Quebec City