The St. Lawrence is one of the longest rivers on the
planet. It is distinguished not only by its size, but by its
rich ecosystems,
diverse wildlife and countless unique islands.
Its estuary is one of the richest in the world. Various species of marine
mammals, birds and fish live, stop over, nest, reproduce or feed here,
particularly during the seasonal migrations.
The St. Lawrence is also one of the world’s
longest navigable
waterways, giving access to the Great Lakes and, consequently, the
interior of the continent. Its history is shadowed by numerous shipwrecks
as a result of shoals that make navigating the river treacherous. Even
today, the captains of cargo and passenger ships have to be guided by
experienced pilots who are well acquainted with the St. Lawrence’s
reef and currents.
Length: From its source, in the Great Lakes, to its mouth, at the
Cabot Strait, the St. Lawrence stretches over
3,200 km (1,988 mi.).
Width: At its narrowest point,
at Québec City, the
river is
less than a kilometre (0.6 mi.) wide. It broadens from
there and, east of Lac Saint-Pierre, its waters become salty. At the
estuary,
its width ranges from
65 km (40 mi.) to
100 km (62 mi.).
The
Gulf of St. Lawrence is
more than 300 km
(186 mi.) wide.
Flow: The mean annual flow,
just off Québec City,
is
12,600 m3/s (445,000 ft
3/s), enough to
fill 16,000 wading pools in one minute. The St. Lawrence has over
100
tributaries and
500 islands.
See also:
St. Lawrence River
