Of all the major waterways crisscrossing the planet, the ‘river of great waters’ throws up huge challenges for even the most experienced sailors. With exceptionally strong sea currents, tides of several meters, the presence of ice in winter as well its treacherous shoals, the St. Lawrence is regarded as one of the most difficult rivers to navigate in the world.

Young captains quickly learn that each journey is never the same, so over the distance of 480 kilometers between Les Escoumins and Montreal, navigation requires the assistance of seasoned sea dogs who know its many peculiarities inside out. Even with modern day boat design, navigation is never plain sailing so just imagine the skills that were required steering the vessels of Samuel de Champlain in the early 1600’s!

One of the reasons for Charlevoix’s abundant marine life is due to the saltwater’s transition to fresh water that occurs in a specific area stretching 112 kilometers from Baie-Sainte-Catherine, just a few kilometers upstream from Petite-Rivière-Saint-François. From the Gulf of St.Lawrence to Tadoussac, the water remains salty and in the Charlevoix region, it oscillates between moderately and slightly salty, so it qualifies as brackish water. In this region, the salt content is generally 30g per litre compared to 35g which is the average for seawater the world over.

The majestic, flowing energy of the St. Lawrence