Country Canada Settled 1855 Postal code(s) G0G 2E0 Population 246 (2011) Province Québec | Region Côte-Nord Constituted September 16, 1907 Area 200.4 km² Local time Tuesday 2:17 AM RCM Côte-Nord | |
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Time zone Within the AST legislated time zone boundary but observes EST (UTC-5) Weather -11°C, Wind E at 5 km/h, 94% Humidity | ||
Natashquan is a township municipality and village in Minganie Regional County Municipality, Côte-Nord region, Quebec, Canada. It should not be confused with the adjacent but separate Innu reserve of Natashquan.
Contents
Map of Natashquan, QC, Canada
The township is named after the Natashquan River, that had already been mapped and named in the 17th century. It comes from the Innu language, meaning "where one hunts for bear".
In addition to the village of Natashquan itself, the municipality also includes the small community of Pointe-Parent (50°07′49″N 61°48′02″W) that is located on the Natashquan River, directly adjacent to the Natashquan Reserve. It is home to some fishermen homes and was served by a post office from 1953 to 1976. Once also known as Pointe-du-Poste and Village-du-Poste, Pointe-Parent was named after priest Pierre-Clément Parent (1733–1784) who served as missionary in Tadoussac and Labrador and died in Natashquan.
Geography
The community is located on the north shore of the Jacques Cartier Strait and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, straddling both banks of the Little Natashquan River, some 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Havre-Saint-Pierre. The township is bordered on the east and south by the estuary of the Natashquan River, and encompasses an area that is riddled with numerous small ponds and lakes.
History
While Jacques Cartier had visited the area in 1534 and a trading post already existed in 1710 at the mouth of the Natashquan River, the settlement of Natashquan in the eponymous township was not founded until 1855 when the first settlers arrived. They were Acadians from the Magdalen Islands, particularly from Amherst Island (île du Havre Aubert). That same year, the Notre-Dame-de-Natashquan Mission was founded on the west bank of the Little Natashquan River. In 1869, the township was officially established, and in August 1872, the post office opened. In 1907, the place was incorporated as a township municipality. For many decades Natashquan was dependent on fishing, but nowadays few fishermen remain.
Language
Mother tongue:
Transport
The main road through Natashquan is Quebec Route 138, and it is also served by Natashquan Airport and Natashquan (Lac de l'Avion) Water Aerodrome.
Climate
Natashquan experiences a borderline subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) that is just short of being classed as a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb).
Famous residents
Natashquan was the birthplace of singer Gilles Vigneault.