- Natashquan, Quebec (municipality)
-
Natashquan — Township — 
NatashquanCoordinates: 50°11′N 61°49′W / 50.183°N 61.817°WCoordinates: 50°11′N 61°49′W / 50.183°N 61.817°W Country 
CanadaProvince 
QuebecRegion Côte-Nord Regional county Minganie Settled 1855 Formed September 16, 1907 Government[1] - Mayor Jacques Landry - Federal riding Manicouagan - Prov. riding Duplessis Area[2] - Land 203.51 km2 (78.6 sq mi) Population (2006)[2] - Total 264 - Density 1.3/km2 (3.4/sq mi) Time zone Within the AST legislated time zone boundary but observes EST [3] (UTC-5) - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4) Postal Code G0G 2E0 Area code(s) 418 and 581 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.
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".[4]
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 / 50.13028°N 61.80056°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.[5]
Contents
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.[6]
History
The original fishermen huts (magasins du Galet) are since 2006 a Quebec cultural heritage site.
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.[4][7]
Demographics
Population trend:[8]
- Population in 2006: 264 (2001 to 2006 population change: -27.9 %)
- Population in 2001: 366
- Population in 1996: 356
- Population in 1991: 380
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 124 (total dwellings: 155)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0 %
- French as first language: 96.2 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 3.8 %
Transport
Natashquan is the eastern terminus of Quebec Route 138, and is 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).
Climate data for Natashquan Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 8.2
(46.8)6.7
(44.1)12.8
(55.0)17.8
(64.0)23.9
(75.0)26.4
(79.5)28.9
(84.0)28.3
(82.9)26.1
(79.0)19.4
(66.9)14.4
(57.9)9.4
(48.9)28.4
(83.1)Average high °C (°F) −7.9
(17.8)−7.2
(19.0)−2
(28)3.3
(37.9)9.6
(49.3)15.2
(59.4)18.7
(65.7)18
(64)13.8
(56.8)7.9
(46.2)2
(36)−4.8
(23.4)5.5 Daily mean °C (°F) −13.5
(7.7)−12.7
(9.1)−7.1
(19.2)−0.4
(31.3)5.4
(41.7)10.8
(51.4)14.5
(58.1)13.8
(56.8)9.6
(49.3)3.9
(39.0)−1.9
(28.6)−9.7
(14.5)1.1 Average low °C (°F) −19.1
(−2.4)−18.2
(−0.8)−12
(10)−4.1
(24.6)1
(34)6.3
(43.3)10.3
(50.5)9.5
(49.1)5.3
(41.5)0
(32)−5.7
(21.7)−14.5
(5.9)−3.4 Record low °C (°F) −42.8
(−45.0)−37.2
(−35.0)−33.7
(−28.7)−22.5
(−8.5)−12.8
(9.0)−3.9
(25.0)1.1
(34.0)−1.1
(30.0)−7.8
(18.0)−15
(5)−31.7
(−25.1)−35
(−31)−42.8
(−45.0)Precipitation mm (inches) 95.7
(3.768)67.4
(2.654)95.2
(3.748)81.7
(3.217)88.6
(3.488)86.2
(3.394)99
(3.9)96
(3.78)100.5
(3.957)107.9
(4.248)106.4
(4.189)105.3
(4.146)1,129.9
(44.484)Rainfall mm (inches) 18.8
(0.74)12.5
(0.492)27.7
(1.091)47.2
(1.858)83.6
(3.291)86.2
(3.394)99
(3.9)96
(3.78)100.4
(3.953)102.2
(4.024)70.5
(2.776)29.4
(1.157)773.5
(30.453)Snowfall cm (inches) 79.1
(31.14)55.8
(21.97)66.9
(26.34)33.3
(13.11)4.5
(1.77)0.0
(0)0.0
(0)0.0
(0)0.0
(0)5.5
(2.17)34.4
(13.54)76.8
(30.24)356.3
(140.28)Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 19.1 15.8 15.7 14.5 13.9 13.0 14.3 13.2 14.3 15.2 15.1 17.7 181.8 Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 2.5 2.4 4.5 8.5 13.2 13.0 14.3 13.2 14.3 14.4 9.0 4.4 113.7 Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 18.4 14.9 13.6 9.3 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.03 2.2 9.2 16.1 85.53 Sunshine hours 104.7 125.3 148.2 161.4 214.2 219.3 236.8 228.2 166.0 125.4 96.8 87.2 1,913.5 Source: Environment Canada[9] Famous residents
Natashquan was the birthplace of Gilles Vigneault, one of Quebec's most iconic songwriters.
References
- ^ Ministère des Affaires Municipales, Régions et Occupation du territoire - Répertoire des municipalités: Natashquan
- ^ a b Statistics Canada 2006 Census - Natashquan community profile
- ^ National Research Council Canada - Time Zones & Daylight Saving Time
- ^ a b "Natashquan (Municipalité de canton)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=43497. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
- ^ "Pointe-Parent (hameau)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=50173. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- ^ "Natashquan (Canton)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=43494. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
- ^ "Natashquan (Bureau de poste)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=179667. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
- ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
- ^ Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 27 April 2010
Lac-Jérôme Aguanish 
Natashquan River / Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-St-Laurent 
Natashquan Twp. 
Jacques Cartier Strait / L'Ile-d'Anticosti Natashquan Reserve, Natashquan River /
Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-St-Laurent Administrative divisions of Côte-Nord (Region 09)Regional county municipalities
and equivalent territoriesLa Haute-Côte-Nord · Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent · Manicouagan · Sept-Rivières · Caniapiscau · Minganie
Municipalities Forestville · Baie-Comeau · Sept-Îles · Port-Cartier · Havre-Saint-Pierre · Fermont · Schefferville
Administrative divisions of Quebec Categories:- Townships of Quebec
- Incorporated places in Côte-Nord
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