|
The
Saguenay Fjord
Sea Kayaking Quebec's Saguenay Region
© Outdoor
Adventure Canada
 The
Saguenay Fjord, measuring more than 100 km long, runs northwest
from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to the mouth of the Saguenay
River in Quebec's Saint-Lac-Jean-Saguenay Region. Kayaking along
remarkable vistas and paddling alongside beluga whales offers
a unique opportunity.
As glaciers
from the last ice age scoured the earth to form a U shaped trough,
the Saguenay Fjord was formed with its high and jagged cliffs.
Seawater rushes in from the mouth of the St. Lawrence that combines
with the fresh cold water within the fjord. This mixture creates
the raw materials for a rich diversity of marine life. The geography
is a magnificent and the St. Lawrence Estuary and Saguenay Fjord
are so valuable ecologically that both the Government of Canada
and the Quebec Provincial government protects them under legislation.
This 1138 km square area has been designated as the Saguenay-St.
Lawrence Marine Park.
The stretch
from La Baie to Tadoussac at the St. Lawrence River is dotted
with small communities on the north and south sides of its banks.
The towns and villages make up what is referred to as the ten
stages of the Fjord, all having their own unique character and
charm. The people of this region are affectionately known as Bleuets
due the area's abundance of blueberries or as the French say,
bleuets.
Tadoussac
founded by Champlain in 1535, and he called the land westward
to Lac-Saint-Jean the "kingdom". This began a long era
of relations between the indigenous people, the Montagnais, and
the French. For 200 years the focus of this region was the fur
trade. The rivers and lakes from Tadoussac made up the network
for fur trading.
For sea kayaking
you may access the Fjord through four communities along its route;
La Baie, Sainte Rose-du-Nord, Riévère Éternité
and L'Anse Saint-Jean. When kayaking in Baie Éternité
you will view high cliffs. Caves are found in the steep walls
between Cap de la Boule and Tadossac. On La Petite Ile there is
a grotto that was once used by natives and of the few beaches
that are along the Saguenay Fjord, L' Anse Saint-Étienne
has a beach of black sand. Beluga whales are found from L'Anse
Saint-Jean to Tadoussac as these creatures follow the tides to
feed.
The Fjord
offers many enjoyable experiences but it is not without its perils.
The water is extremely cold. The average water temperature is
16-20 degress celcius (60-68 F) in July and August. Wearing an
isothermal suit is a must and you will need a tidal schedule.
The wind can blow violently, and you must be always mindful of
the tides and the weather report. High tides can make the Fjord
unmanageable and very dangerous. Bad weather conditions can churn
the Fjord into a sea of metre high waves.
There are
many guided tours available in the Saguenay Fjord and if you are
not experienced in sea kayaking a guided tour is a must. This
offers greater safety and security than venturing out on your
own by allowing you to enjoy the experience with minimal risk.
Kayaking tour companies have well trained guides that hold certificates
from the Quebec Government. These people have traveled for extensive
hours on the Fjord, and are knowledgeable about weather patterns
and tide schedules. Guides have first aid and CPR training plus
they carry marine radios.
A variety
of excursions are available from ranging from a 1 hour paddle
to a 5 day trip. Solo and tandem kayaks can be rented and life
jackets and isothermal suits are generally supplied. The 1 and
3 hour tours would be ideal for the whole family to enjoy. These
shorter tours can accommodate adults with children from the ages
of 3 to 14. On an extended trip of 3 to 5 days all the meals and
provisions are included and you will camp at remote sites on the
shoreline.
Visiting the
Saguenay Fjord will provide you with many fond memories of the
people, the spectacular geography, and incredible sunsets. I cannot
think of anything more peaceful than kayaking with the whales
in this beautiful setting.
For more articles
please view the archives.
|
