Forillon National Park
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| Forillon National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Location | Quebec, Canada |
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| Nearest city | Gaspé, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 48°49′26″N 64°17′26″W / 48.82389°N 64.29056°WCoordinates: 48°49′26″N 64°17′26″W / 48.82389°N 64.29056°W |
| Area | 244 km² |
| Established | 1970 |
| Visitors | 137,070 (in 2007[1]) |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
Forillon National Park is located on the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, one of 43 national parks and park reserves across Canada. The park includes forests, sea coast, salt marshes, sand dunes, cliffs, and the northern end of the Appalachians. Created in 1970, Forillon was the first national park in Quebec. It covers 244 km².
The word forillon is thought to have referred to a flowerpot island or sea stack which used to be a landmark in the area but has since collapsed into the ocean.
The park includes nesting colonies of sea birds and whales, seals, black bears, moose, and other woodland animals.
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[edit] The creation of the Park
The creation of the Park in 1970 was preceded by the removal through expropriation of several 100 families that had settled within the boundaries of the proposed area. Several of the foundations of the demolished houses remain today hidden in the underbrush of several sections of the park. Several families in the Gaspé Peninsula region were forced to re-settle in the surrounding areas and hold a vivid memory of the events that unfolded during those times. Forillon National Park does not mention these unfortunate events anywhere within their exhibits and fails to acknowledge the existence of a community within the park. When preparing to create the new park, the Government of Canada requested that the Quebec government expropriate the homes of these families. The Quebec government sub-contracted the appropriation and negotiations to a private firm. This firm allegedly used various bullying tactics to scare the residents into agreeing to settlements of reduced value. This stratagem ensured a larger profit margin for the unscrupulous contractor.
[edit] Gallery
 Cap Gaspé taken from Cap Bon-Ami, on the North side of the Forillon peninsula |
 Cap Gaspé at sunset |
 The peninsula leading to Cap Gaspé in Forillon National Park, taken from Mont Saint-Alban |
 Rock formation called "Le Vieux" (the Old Man) and Cap Gaspé lighthouse |
 Reproduction of a traditional salt cod fishery installation created for the 1998 TV series, "L'ombre de l'épervier" |
 Stepped cascade along the "La Chute" hiking trail |
 Waterfall along the "La Chute" hiking trail |
 Water splashing over mossy rocks. Close-up of waterfall along the "La Chute" hiking trail |
 Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) near Cap Gaspé |
 Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) near Cap Bon-Ami |
 Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) near Cap Bon-Ami |
 North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) at Cap Gaspé |
[edit] References
- ^ "Parks Canada Attendance 2003-04 to 2007-08". Parks Canada. 2008. http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/pc/rpts/attend/attend_e.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-04-04.
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Forillon National Park of Canada |
[edit] External links
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