Jacques-Cartier National Park (French: Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier) is a provincial park located 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Quebec City. The park aims to protect wildlife in the Laurentian massif. It lies within the Eastern forest-boreal transitionecoregion.[3]
History
The Montagnais and the Huron peoples used to inhabit lands that currently make up Jacques-Cartier National Park. During the 17th century, Hurons worked as guides for Jesuits who wanted to travel between Quebec City and Lac Saint-Jean without using the St. Lawrence River.[4]
Starting in the mid-19th century, the area was a major producer of lumber.[4] Due to pressure from the American conservationist movement, the Laurentian Wildlife Reserve, whose lands the park was formed from, was created in 1895.[5] The end of World War II, as well as improved road networks, brought in a considerable increase in the number of visitors to the area. In 1972, Hydro-Québec proposed building a dam on the Jacques-Cartier river, which would have resulted in flooding the valley.[6] Due to public pressure, the project was abandoned in 1975. That same year also saw the end of the lumber industry in the region.[4] In 1981, Jacques-Cartier National Park was created from the southernmost lands of the Laurentian Wildlife Reserve.[2]
The park contains several glacial landforms such as drumlins and moraine. The most prominent glacial landform in Jacques-Cartier National Park is the Jacques-Cartier Valley (French:Vallée de la Jacques-Cartier). The U-shaped valley is 550 metres (1,804 ft) deep and was formed during the last glacial period.[8][9]
Jacques-Cartier National Park had 145,600 visitors in 2005, with a third of those visitors coming from outside the region.[12] Activities at the park include 100 kilometres (62 mi) of hiking trails, 30 kilometres (19 mi) of biking trails, kayaking, fishing, canoeing, tubing, snowshoeing and skiing. Accommodations at the park include 9 cabins, 5 yurts and 114 campsites.[8]
In 2009, the park underwent a $2.3 million renovation to both modernize and build new infrastructure such as roads and cottages.[12]