Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France) Saint Pierre and Miquelon on the map

18.01.2024

Inhabited since at least the Neolithic, the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon remained for a long time on the margins of civilization. The Portuguese navigator and explorer Joao Alvares Fagundes, the first European to sail along the shores of these islands in 1521, quite poetically called them “Isles of Eleven Thousand Virgins.” The French, who were intensively exploring the New World, gave them a name in honor of St. Pierre, the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. In the 16th-17th centuries, these lands were used as a base for seasonal cod fishing by French fishermen from La Rochelle, Granville, Saint-Malo and the Basque Country, who founded the first European settlements here (Miquelon got its name from the mouths of Basque fishermen from Saint-Jean -du-Luz). The French concessions were interrupted after the Treaty of Utrecht, and only in 1763 the islands again came under the auspices of Paris. From 1763 to 1778, many settlers fled here from the French colony of Acadia (Nova Scotia), in 1778 the islands were attacked by the British, and their entire population was expelled in retaliation for French support of the American Revolution. The islands finally returned to French jurisdiction only in 1816 and since then have remained the last fragment of the once vast North American possessions of this European power.

The Great Newfoundland Bank, within which Saint Pierre and Miquelon lie, is one of the richest fishing areas on the planet. Even though there has been some depletion of biological stocks in the region due to human activities, fishing continues to be the most important source of income for the islands' inhabitants. However, tourism, which until now has hardly developed in this part of the planet, is beginning to play an increasingly important role in the local economy - there are many people on Earth who are ready to consider not beaches or coconuts as attractions, but the harsh beauty of northern places, the cultural identity of the population and excellent conditions for active recreation.

Saint Pierre

The town of Saint-Pierre is the commercial and administrative center of the islands, stretching along the northern side of Barachois harbor, in the eastern part of the island of Saint-Pierre. It is home to only 6,500 inhabitants (however, this is 90% of the inhabitants of the islands, mostly Basques, Bretons, Normans and other immigrants from France), nevertheless the urban infrastructure is quite modern (the second large settlement of the commune is the island and village of Ile-o- Marins, entered the city limits in 1945). Its entire appearance speaks of the fishing past of the islands - almost all significant buildings are concentrated near the harbor, dissected by breakwaters and piers, and the main landmarks here are the post office buildings in the Alsatian style, its clock tower and the nearby customs office, behind which lies a small square named after Charles de Gaulle, considered the center of the city. It is here that the main events associated with various holidays take place, the Old Fountain and the House with a Turret are also located here, and from the embankment near the square there is a beautiful panorama of the bay and the ocean.

The main attraction of the city is the Saint-Pierre Cathedral on Place Maurer. The first temple, built on this site in 1690, was rebuilt several times, and in 1902 it was destroyed by fire and restored in 1905-1907. Its gallery of stained glass windows is a gift to the island from General de Gaulle, and to restore the spire in the 70s of the 20th century, stone was brought here all the way from Alsace. The buildings of the Government Quarter are lined up around the Place Maurer - the Palace of Justice, the Conseil General complex, the governor's office and the prefecture. Somewhat further north, right behind the buildings of the City Hall and the city hospital, lies the Fronton-Zaspiak-Bath arena - the most popular venue for competitions in the traditional Basque sport - pelota, as well as a place for organizing various festive events. The word "Zaspiak", which can be translated as "seven as one", represents the seven ancient Basque provinces located in Spain (Gipuzkoa, Alava, Navarre and Vizcaya) and France (Basse-Navarre, Sule and Labourde, today part of the department Atlantic Pyrenees).

Also attractive is the Pointe aux Cannon lighthouse on a breakwater that protrudes far into the harbor (it got its name in honor of the cannon installed here, which, according to local residents, took part in the Crimean War of the 19th century, although, most likely, it was simply cast in the same period) and the Pointe-au-Cannon-Battery battery stretching at the base of the pier is all that remains of the old fort that defended Saint-Pierre and Miquelon from British raids in 1690-1713. Somewhat north of the fort stretches a series of buildings of the Les Salines fishing stations, designed to illustrate the most important aspect of the local economy - the fishing culture, and also simply to provide fishermen with the opportunity to store their vessels and gear.

If you move from Place Charles de Gaulle to the southwest, you can find the Heritage Museum (tel.: +508 41-58-88) with an extensive historical collection, the Robber Hotel, located on the embankment, with a small private museum located in it. La Proibision (tel.: +508 41-24-19), State Archives Museum (tel.: +508 41-04-35) and the War Memorial located almost opposite it (dedicated to the islanders who died during the two world wars - It is interesting to note that while most of France was occupied by the Germans during World War II, the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon were a stronghold of de Gaulle's Free French movement from December 1941, and their citizens fought against the occupiers at all costs. fronts), Fort Lorraine on Rue Besson (built by Free French troops in 1941-1943), a block to the north, the Cross of Calvare (a reminder of the Catholic heritage of the islands), as well as forming the southernmost outskirts of the city, the Cultural Center, scientific and the educational and cultural center Francoforum, the skating rink and the well-known Saint-Pierre cemetery, made in a unique “North American style”.

On the south-eastern side of the island rises the picturesque Galantri lighthouse (built in the 1970s on the site of the original 19th century lighthouse), the fog horn sounding from which, in fact, complements the appearance of the capital with its “romantic voice” (often tourists specifically wait for bad weather to appreciate the sharp and strong sound of a bugle, dissonantly superimposed on the hopeless fog and the absolute silence that falls on the island with the advent of fog). Nearby you can find the private villa of Cutty Sark (entering the territory without the consent of the owners is prohibited), which, according to local legends, was built from the wood of this legendary tea clipper.

Ile aux Marins

The small island of Ile aux Marins (Ile aux Cheyennes, 1.5 sq. km), located in the throat of Saint-Pierre harbor, is, in fact, one large and fairly spacious fishing village with a population of only 10 souls. Modern fishing techniques have contributed to the development of this once bustling fishing community, turning it into a quiet and tranquil open-air museum, opening a window into the past of civilization. The overwhelming number of its residents have long since moved to Saint-Pierre, and the rest gather here only during the Putin period, so numerous ancient houses made of wood and wild stone stand mostly half-abandoned, and the ocean winds walk completely freely along its two main streets. Here you can see the church of Notre-Dame des Marins (1874), still used for services, the Archipelago Museum and City Hall located opposite it, the battery of the old fort (19th century) on the north-western tip of the island, the colorful Heseckel House building (now a fishing museum), a picturesque old cemetery, an abandoned lighthouse at the southern tip and the rusting wreck of the Transpacific on the eastern shore and the dune landscape around it. Due to the island's proximity to the capital, many residents of Saint-Pierre gather here on weekends.

Miquelon

The largest and northern island of the archipelago, Miquelon is formed by several smaller islands, between which the ocean has washed long sand spits, forming several salty lagoons. The only large settlement on the island is the village (commune) of Miquelon, located in the northeastern part, on Le Cap, between the Grand Etang lagoon and the ocean. This is one of the most picturesque places on the planet - a small village of no more than 500-600 people, surrounded on all sides by the sands of a 14-kilometer dune, whose eastern shore bears traces of more than 500 shipwrecks. The main attractions here are the wooden church of Miquelon located opposite each other and the stone Monument aux Mortes, the old cemetery and the Miquelon Museum lying on its edge (tel.: +508 41-67-07), a compact government quarter in the center of the village and rising on West coast lighthouse Far du Cap Blanc.

The southernmost part of Miquelon is surrounded by a vast lagoon known as the Gran Barachois, which is home to a huge number of birds and other fauna. Almost at any time of the year you can watch birds here, either wandering from north to south or vice versa, or organizing mating games or bird markets on its banks. And the sight of thousands of migratory birds floating across the sky in spring or autumn is no less fascinating than this harsh and beautiful region itself. Also colorful is the northern cape of the island of Le Cap, whose landscape is only emphasized by the uniqueness of the birds and other inhabitants of the sea that live here. Every spring, the whales migrating to Greenland pass just off the coast of Miquelon, allowing you to observe these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.

Langlade

The southern part of Miquelon, connected to it by a long sand spit, which locals simply call La Dune, Langlade has a reputation as a rugged and very beautiful island, whose coast is surrounded by low but quite steep cliffs. For most of the year, only a few farmers can be found here, growing crops and raising livestock on these harsh soils. However, in the summer up to one fifth of the permanent population of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon gathers here. This piece of land has the most diverse nature of all the islands in the group - steep cliffs, small forests and an abundance of wildlife make it a favorite summer residence and holiday destination for many islanders.

A few of Langlade's attractions include the private Clem Cousic Museum, which houses artifacts found on the island's shores, a lonely and picturesque chapel, the lighthouse of Le Far de La Pointe Plate and the entire 35 km west coast of the island, as well as isolated rocky shores and many bird sites scattered throughout Langlade.

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Geographical position

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is an overseas community that is part of France. It is located on small islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 20 km south of the Canadian island of Newfoundland in Cabot Strait. These islands are the only territory left to France from the former colony of New France.
The area of the islands is 242 km².
The largest island is Miquelon (216 km²), and the bulk of the population lives on the second largest island, Saint-Pierre. Saint Pierre and Miquelon occupies an archipelago of 8 islands.
It consists of 3 relatively large islands - Saint-Pierre, Miquelon and Langlade, as well as 5 small islands - Grand Colombier, Petit Colombier, Ile aux Marins (Ile aux Cheyennes) and others.
The total length of the coastline is about 120 km.
The capital is the city of Saint-Pierre, which is located on the island of the same name.
The islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are composed of ancient rocks, and there are deposits from the Ice Age.
The shores of the islands are heavily indented, steep and difficult to access. The interior of the islands has a hilly topography. The highest point of the country has a height of 240 meters, it is located on the island of Miquelon. The islands have a large number of streams and small rivers.

The country has a cool and very humid climate. In summer, average temperatures reach only 13-14 degrees. Due to the influence of the warm ocean current Gulf Stream, winter here is quite mild. Often the temperature of ocean water can be 7-15 C higher than the air temperature above the islands. The coldest month is February, the average temperature in February is -2.7°. Winters on the islands are snowy.
Over 1400 mm of precipitation falls annually. Most of the year is characterized by cloudy weather with precipitation and strong winds. There is fog about 120 days a year.
The difference between day and night temperatures can reach 15 degrees, especially in the autumn-winter period. At this time, the country is under the influence of cold Arctic air masses.

In summer there are often long rains with drizzle and fog, while in winter sometimes up to a meter of snow falls.

The cold Labrador Current can cause temperatures to drop to +2-7 C even in summer.

Due to the collision of moist sea air masses, fogs are very often observed, especially common in early and mid-summer. Spring and autumn are characterized by windy and clear weather.
The sea off the coast of the islands freezes quite rarely. Frequent and sharp changes in atmospheric pressure are observed. The best time to visit the islands is from May to August.

Visas, entry rules, customs rules

Citizens of Russia and the CIS must obtain a visa to enter the islands. The islands belong to the overseas possessions of France, so you need to contact the consular section of the French Embassy:
You can import and export means of payment without restrictions. An amount exceeding 7,000 euros must be included in the declaration. Foreign currency converted into euros cannot be converted into foreign currency again in full, but only up to the equivalent of 500 euros.

You can import small amounts of alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, tea, perfume, as well as some food and other goods into the country duty-free. Labeling expiration dates on food products is mandatory.

It is prohibited to import into or export from the country narcotic and psychotropic substances, objects of historical value, weapons and ammunition, as well as animals and plants that are included in the list of endangered species.

To import medications, you must have a prescription issued by a doctor or lawyer. Plants, animals and plant products must be presented to quarantine officials. Animals must have a certificate of vaccinations, as well as a medical certificate in French. This certificate must be issued no earlier than five days before departure.

Population, political status

The country's population is about 7 thousand people. The majority of the islands' population comes from France (Basques and Bretons).
Since 1985, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon has been a special self-governing territorial unit of France. The department of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is governed by a prefect, who is appointed by the President of France.
The local government body is the Territorial Council, which consists of 19 members elected by the population for a 6-year term. Deputies are elected through general secret elections in the constituencies.
The population of the islands elects one French senator and one deputy to the French National Assembly.
The country is led by the President of France. The head of government is the President of the General Council.
The official language is French.

What to see

The town of Saint-Pierre is the commercial and administrative center of the islands. It lies in the eastern part of the island of the same name. The city has a fairly well-developed modern infrastructure.
The whole appearance of the island testifies to its fishing past. Local attractions include the Alsatian-style post office building, its clock tower and the customs building located nearby.
The small square named after Charles de Gaulle is considered the center of the city. It is here that various festive events are traditionally held. On the square, tourists can see the Old Fountain and the House with a Turret. From the embankment near the square there is a magnificent panorama of the bay and the ocean.
The main attraction of the town is considered to be the Saint-Pierre Cathedral, located on Place Maurer. The first temple was built on this site in 1690, then it was rebuilt many times. In 1902, this temple was destroyed by fire; it was restored in 1905-1907.
The gallery of stained glass windows of this temple is a gift to the island from General de Gaulle. To restore the spire in the 70s of the 20th century, stone was brought here from Alsace.
Around the Place Maurer are located the buildings of the Government Quarter: the Palace of Justice, the Conseil General complex, the office of the governor and the prefecture. A little further north is the Fronton-Zaspiak-Bat arena, which hosts competitions in the traditional Basque sport of pelota.
The Pointe aux Cannon lighthouse stands on a breakwater that extends far into the harbor. It got its name in honor of the cannon installed here. According to local residents, this cannon took part in the Crimean War of the 19th century.
The old fort, now almost completely destroyed, protected the island from British raids.
Somewhat north of the fort stretches a series of buildings of the fishing stations of Les Salines.
If you go southwest from Place Charles de Gaulle, you can look into the Heritage Museum. This museum has an extensive historical collection.
On the embankment there is the Robber Hotel, which houses a small private museum called De la Proibition. The State Archives Museum and War Memorial, located almost opposite it, is dedicated to the islanders who died during the two world wars.
Fort Lorraine on Rue Besson was built by Free French troops in 1941-1943. The Calvare Cross serves as a reminder of the islands' Catholic heritage.
On the island you can also visit the Cultural Center, the scientific, educational and cultural center Francoforum, as well as an ice skating rink. The Saint-Pierre Cemetery is known for its unique "North American style".
On the south-eastern side of the island is the picturesque Galantri lighthouse. It was built in the 1970s on the site of an original 19th-century lighthouse. A foghorn sounds from it, the sound of which is very popular with tourists.
Nearby, tourists can explore the private villa of Cutty Sark, if its owners allow it. This house is famous for being built from the wood of the legendary tea clipper.
The small island of Ile aux Marins is located at the throat of Saint-Pierre harbour. It is a small fishing village. Here, numerous ancient houses made of wood and wild stone stand half-abandoned. Here tourists can see the Notre-Dame des Marins church, which was built in 1874 and is still used for services.
Opposite the church are the Archipelago Museum and City Hall. At the northwestern tip of the island is the battery of the old fort, dating back to the 19th century. The picturesque Heseckel House building is now home to a fisherman's museum.
On the eastern shore you can see the rusting hulk of the Transpacific.
Miquelon is the largest and northern island of the archipelago. It is formed by several smaller islands, between which long sand spits stretch.
The only large settlement on this island is the village (commune) of Miquelon. It is located in the northeastern part. It is considered one of the most colorful places on the planet. This small village is home to 500-600 people. It is surrounded on all sides by sand dunes.

The main attractions here are the wooden church of Miquelon and the stone Monument aux Mortes, located opposite each other, the old cemetery and the Miquelon Museum lying on its edge, the compact government quarter in the center of the village and the Far du Cap Blanc lighthouse, rising on the western shore .

The southernmost part of Miquelon is surrounded by a vast lagoon known as the Gran Barachois. It is home to a huge number of birds and other fauna. You can watch birds here at almost any time of the year.
Also colorful is the northern cape of the island of Le Cap, whose landscape is only emphasized by the uniqueness of the birds and other inhabitants of the sea that live here. Every spring you can watch whales migrating to Greenland here.
This island is connected to Miquelon by a long sand spit. It is famous for its beauty. The coast of the island is surrounded by steep cliffs. Usually on this island you can only see a small number of farmers farming here. But in the summer, a fairly large part of the residents of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon flock here to relax.

The nature on this island is quite diverse. Here you can see steep cliffs, small forests and plenty of wildlife.

Local attractions include the picturesque chapel and the lighthouse of Le Far de La Pointe Plate. In the private museum of Clem Kuzik, tourists can see a collection of exhibits found on the shores of the island.
There are a large number of bird sites scattered throughout Langlade.

The islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon were inhabited during the Neolithic.
In 1521, the first European to sail along the shores of these islands was the Portuguese navigator and explorer Joao Alvarez Fagundes.
These islands were discovered in 1536 by a French expedition led by Jacques Cartier.
The island got its name in honor of Saint Pierre, who is considered the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. In the 16th-17th centuries, French fishermen used these lands as a base for seasonal cod fishing.
The first permanent settlement here was founded by the French in 1604, they came from Normandy and Brittany.
Until 1713, these islands were part of Acadia, a French colony in North America. It occupied the territory of what is now the Atlantic provinces of Canada. The Peace of Utrecht was concluded in 1713. Under its terms, French possessions along the shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the island of Newfoundland ceded to England.
Between 1763 and 1778, large numbers of settlers from Acadia fled to the islands. In 1778, the islands were attacked by the British and their entire population expelled in retaliation for French support of the American Revolution. The islands finally returned to French jurisdiction only in 1816. Since that time they have remained the last fragment of the once vast North American possessions of this European power.
Since 1946, the islands received the status of an overseas territory of France, and from July 19, 1976 - the status of an overseas department of France.

International trade

The main foreign trade partners of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are: Canada, USA. France, the Netherlands and the UK. The islands export fish and fish products, as well as fishing vessels. The volume of imports of the islands is several times higher than the volume of exports. The country imports most of its food, as well as industrial goods and fuel.

The shops

Most shops on the islands are open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 18.00. Almost all stores have Saturday and Sunday as their days off. The only exceptions are some supermarkets and retail outlets in port areas. All price tags in stores are drawn up taking into account the inclusion of all taxes.

The traditional sales season begins on the islands in the second half of January. According to French rules, a sale cannot last less than 6 weeks.

As souvenirs, you can bring various crafts from local artisans, which can be purchased at any market.

Demography

About 90% of the population is in Saint-Pierre, only about 700 people live in Miquelon. The population of the city of Saint-Pierre, the largest on the islands, is only 6,500 inhabitants.

Industry

The country's economic activity is based on fishing and fish processing. Fishing is carried out in coastal waters by small vessels. Mostly cod is caught here.
On the islands there are workshops for processing fish and cod liver; there are also shipbuilding yards and small machine-building factories.

Flora and fauna

Features of the relief and climate make it difficult for woody vegetation to grow on the islands.
Forests grow in valleys, on gentle slopes of hills, and in areas protected from the wind. They are represented mainly by spruce. Thickets of dwarf spruce are common on the windward slopes of the hills. Of the deciduous trees, birch is the most common. Another type of vegetation on the archipelago are swampy meadows and sphagnum bogs (peat bogs). They are very similar to tundra vegetation.
The forest area has been greatly reduced due to timber harvesting for firewood.

Banks and money

Banknotes of Saint Pierre and Miquelon / Currency converter

The official currency of the country is the Euro, equal to 100 cents. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

You can see the location of this country (territory) on our map by clicking on the underlined name of the continent (North America)

France

in North America

In the illustration: Map of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon on a map of North America.

The map clearly shows that France has indeed clung to the last North American frontier, retaining Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

But the archipelago is so small that it is often not even indicated on maps of the continent, or is limited to the mark FR - French Republic, in the sense of territory belonging to France.

The territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon usually positions itself as the last French territory in North America with the slogan for tourists “Where France meets North America” (“Where France meets America”), which may be impressive, but not entirely correct, since To. formally, the French overseas departments of Martinique and Guadeloupe and several smaller islands are also located in North America.

However, they are all located much further south, in a completely separate subregion of the Caribbean, one might say, only included in North America.

But, indeed, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are the only territory remaining under French control from the huge colony of New France, which in better times included the current Canadian Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia (called Acadia under the French) and Prince's Island Edward (French Island of Saint-Jean), Newfoundland (French New Earth (Terre-Neuve), as well as the territory of Louisiana with the modern US states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

If you look at the map, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon gives the impression of being the last frontier of the North American continent; the French had nowhere else to retreat - only to the sea.

The islands are located 20 kilometers off the coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon: not two, but eight islands

In the illustration: Map of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

The archipelago consists of eight islands(listed in order of size of the territory): Miquelon, Langlade (otherwise Langlade, also called Little Miquelon), Saint-Pierre, Grand Colombiere, Ile aux Pigeons, Ile aux Marins, Ile aux Venquer, Ile aux -Chassière. However, only two islands are inhabited all year round - Saint Pierre and Miquelon. There are several settlements on Miquelon, and the entire population of the island of Saint-Pierre lives in one - the town of the same name, which is also the capital of the entire archipelago.

The total territory of the archipelago is 242 square meters. km; The population of the islands is about 7,000 people;

Origin of the name and statistics for some islands:

Saint Pierre

The name was given in honor of the Apostle Peter.

Area - 25 sq. km; Population - about 6000 people

Miquelon

According to local archipelago history site grandcolombier.com, the name comes from a corruption of the Basque word Mikel, i.e. Michael. This is how the island was named by the Basques in 1579, who also took part in the development of the archipelago.

The area of Miquelon is −110 sq. km; Population: about 700 people;

A special feature of Miquelon is that it is connected to the neighboring island of Langlade by a narrow strip of land. This is a sandbank that is increasingly flooded by the Atlantic every year.

Langlade

From the now forgotten name Cap de Langlais (Cape of England), once given to the local rocks.

The island's territory is 91 sq. km; Langlade is practically uninhabited in winter, but in summer it serves as a summer cottage for the inhabitants of Saint-Pierre.

The twin island of Miquelon-Langlade is approximately ten times larger than Saint-Pierre, but has a population ten times smaller than the latter. The striking population/territory contrast, when 90% of the inhabitants of the archipelago live on the small island of Saint-Pierre, and only 10% on the rather large Miquelon-Laglade (considering that Langlade is generally uninhabited for half the year), is associated with the more extreme climate and topography on Miquelon-Langlade .

Ile aux Marins

From fr. "Island of Sailors" (previously called "Island of Dogs"). Located at the entrance to the bay. city of Saint-Pierre, since 1965 inhabited only in the summer; in the old days there was a fishermen’s village on the island, where up to 600 inhabitants lived, who gradually moved to Saint-Pierre.

Grand Colombiere

From fr. "Big Pigeon Island" Uninhabited, but regularly visited by tourists and birdwatchers to watch seabirds.

Moody natural paradise

The climate of the archipelago is subpolar, damp and cold..

In winter, temperatures can drop to minus forty Celsius, although the average temperature in February, for example, is minus 3 degrees C. The moderating influence of the ocean plays a role.

Summer is quite cool - the average temperature in August is +16 degrees C.

In winter, there is a lot of snow on the islands. In general, it is quite cloudy on the islands all year round.

As already mentioned, Saint-Pierre is considered more pleasant in its climate and landscape than Miquelon.

Miquelon is covered with rocks of volcanic origin, the flora is represented mainly by lichens and mosses, although forests, swampy meadows and peat bogs are also found throughout the archipelago in valleys protected from the wind by rocks. Miquelon has two fairly large lakes: Miranda and Grand Barachois, and Saint-Pierre also has several smaller lakes.

Despite the almost extreme climate and geology, the semi-official website of Saint Pierre and Miquelon st-pierre-et-miquelon.com finds its charm in the nature of the islands, which attract tourists in the summer:

“Spotting scopes, binoculars and bird atlases should be part of the equipment of any visitor to the islands. Ornithologists have identified more than 300 species of birds in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Every year, enthusiastic hobbyists compile sheets of the spring bird migration, and then the autumn migration, ending at Christmas.

The three islands of the archipelago are cut along and across by ancient paths, which are now used by hunters and nature lovers. In Saint-Pierre, lunar landscapes are a stone's throw from deep valleys rich in streams and lakes, remnants of the last ice age. In Miquelon and Langlade you can spot seals and wild horses. Or look at the sand dunes with traces of shipwrecked ships. Inland the landscape changes rapidly from peat bogs to forests.”

Note that the highest point of the archipelago is 240 m (Mount Morne de la Grande Montagne in Miquelon).

Oldest French territory outside of France

In an illustration from the archive: The flags of the French Republic and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are side by side at public buildings of the archipelago.

The flag of Saint Pierre and Miquelon carries the symbolism of the coat of arms of these islands.

According to sources, the first permanent European settlement on Saint-Pierre appeared in 1604. When talking about the origins of the modern people of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, usually island and foreign resources note that the Basques and Bretons (French fishermen) formed its basis.

Nowadays the French element dominates on the island, although fragments of Basque culture have also been preserved. For example, in Saint-Pierre there is a court for Basque ball games. The language of the population is French. Religion-Catholicism.

Status and symbolism

In an illustration from the archive: The coat of arms of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon with the motto of the islands “A mare labor” (“Labor from the sea”).

The official name of the archipelago is Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (Territorial Unit of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon).

The archipelago's coat of arms includes an image of a sailboat as its main element. The image symbolizes the ship on which the French discoverer Jacques Cartier arrived on the islands on June 15, 156. At the top of the coat of arms are the flags of those ethnic groups that originally made up the population of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon: fishermen from Brittany and Normandy in France, as well as Basques from Spain. (From left to right on the coat of arms, respectively, are the flags of Basque Country, Brittany and Normandy). The crown of the coat of arms represents five stylized sailing ships. The motto of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, which began as a community of fishermen: “A mare labor” (“Labor from the sea”). The motto is placed at the bottom of the coat of arms.

The flag of the islands repeats the image of the coat of arms. The symbols of the French Republic are also displayed on the islands.

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon received the status of a territorial unit in 1985. Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is governed by a 19-member Territorial Council, elected for six years, headed by a president who runs the government of the islands.

As st-pierre-et-miquelon.com notes: “Saint Pierre et Miquelon is the oldest French territory outside of France itself. In addition, it is the closest overseas territory to France and its smallest.” Also note that this is the smallest dependent territory in North America outside the Caribbean region.

At the local level, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon consists of two communes of the same name, headed by mayors elected by the population.

The population of the islands also elects a senator and a deputy of the lower house of parliament to the French National Assembly.

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is not part of the European Union, unlike its metropolis, because... The islands are an overseas territory and not a department of France. However, because If residents of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are French citizens, they are in possession of a French European passport. Also, citizens of the archipelago elect deputies to the European Parliament, and on the islands the official currency is the euro.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Story

From Eleven Thousand Virgins to St. Peter

The generally accepted view is that the islands were discovered to the Western world by the Frenchman Jacques Cartier in 1536.

However, to be more precise, and this is what the semi-official website st-pierre-et-miquelon.com writes about, “the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon were named the Islands of the Eleven Thousand Virgins by the Portuguese navigator Joao Alvarez Faguendes in 1520.” . Let us note what g is The catchy name is associated with the feast days of St. Ursula. The legend of 11 thousand virgins is connected with her..

According to legend, Ursula, the daughter of a British ruler and a Christian who lived in the middle of the 4th century, was, by the will of her family, to marry a pagan husband outside of Britain. Ursula did not want to marry a pagan. But, obeying the circumstances, she demanded, for the sake of spreading the faith, that her future husband become a Christian and that a retinue of 11 noble ladies, each accompanied by a thousand virgins, be sent for her.

Then, when her demand was fulfilled, and her future husband came for her, Ursula went to Europe, but in the end, she suffered martyrdom from a Hun arrow, after the captivity of the caravan by the pagan Huns. The future saint was killed after her refusal to become the wife of the Hun leader; the ladies from her retinue, bound by a vow of celibacy, behaved arrogantly with the nomads.

The life of the saint says that Ursula knew in advance about her martyrdom, because... some time before this, an angel appeared to her, proclaiming this and recommending that before her death she make a pilgrimage to Rome. Which is what she did, visiting the Christian capital with her husband.

Ursula's death occurred in the Roman colony of Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (present-day Cologne). According to legend, the caravan of the future saint reached the city just at the moment when it was besieged by Hunnic tribes. Later, Christians, at the site of the discovery of the supposed remains of the saint and her retinue, built the Church of Ursula, where the largest number of relics in this part of Europe are kept - the relics of Ursula’s retinue, as well as the relics attributed to the patron saint of Cologne herself.

However, the exotic name, associated with the story of Saint Ursula and the 11 thousand virgins, did not take root in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Something else has taken hold. Jacques Cartier, after his visit to the now main island of the archipelago, named it by its current name in honor of St. Peter. The first mention of this name is contained in a written travel report by Cartier in 1536. And Miquelon (i.e. Michael) was named a little later by the second island, as already mentioned, by Basque fishermen.

Redskins and Basques

The Basque heritage in Saint Pierre and Miquelon is also evident in the presence of areas for playing the national Basque game pelota.

The rules of the game are simple: participants need to use their hand (in some variations of the game a racket is used) to be able to hit a ball flying off the wall.

So, Faguendes and Cartier were the discoverers of what is now Saint-Pierre and Mequelon. Also, one of the first Europeans to visit the islands in the period between Faguendes and Cart were the Portuguese - the Cortereal brothers, who named the archipelago with a now forgotten name - the Green Islands. We also note, according to historians, visits to the archipelago by European fishermen and whalers - Basques and immigrants from Normandy and Brittany - occurred approximately from the 1500s to 1670, and the first temporary settlement of Europeans on Saint-Pierre was founded, it is believed, in 1604 .

Despite the clashes between settlers from Europe and Indian peoples on the North American continent, nothing is known about clashes with Indians in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. It is believed that they were not there when Europeans arrived.

However, as st-pierre-et-miquelon.com writes: "The islands have been used as a seasonal base for over 8,000 years by many indigenous peoples, including the Beothuk and Paleo-Eskimo."

Artifacts of aboriginal culture were discovered on the island of Saint-Pierre in Anse Henry, north of the city of Saint-Pierre. Some of these artifacts date back to 6000 BC.

And the peoples mentioned above are the ancient Eskimos (Paleo-Eskimo), as well as the indigenous Indian population of what is now Canadian Newfoundland before the arrival of Europeans - the Beothuk Indians. This tribe was one of the first aboriginal tribes encountered by Europeans in North America; the European nickname for the Indians “Redskins” came from them, because the Beothuks painted their faces and clothes with red ocher. The Beothuk, whose number even in the period before the arrival of Europeans was, according to modern estimates, only up to 5,000 people, died out 200 years after the start of the “white man’s” exploration of America, having first been forced into the extremely harsh Labrador, partly mixing with the Montagnais-Naskapi Indians.

French and British

The semi-official website of Saint Pierre and Miquelon st-pierre-et-miquelon.com opens a description of the new history of the archipelago with a mention of the town of Saint-Malo, in the French province of Brittany:

"French traders from Saint-Malo settled in Saint-Pierre at the end of the 17th century and established large-scale fisheries for harvesting and salting cod".

The first hundred years of life of the islanders (remember, the first European settlement on the island is believed to have existed since 1604) passed relatively calmly. But then the Franco-British wars began, and the French were gradually driven out of all continental lands of North America, this also applied to the territories immediately surrounding Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. And the French archipelago itself was inferior to Britain several times in those days. The first time in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht - for as much as 50 years.

Then there were two more British occupations from 1778 to 1783 and from 1793 to 1816.

During all these occupations, the French population was forced to leave the islands frequently. And sometimes, in quiet moments, on the contrary, to accept French-speaking refugees from the French colonies occupied by Great Britain on the mainland.

Let us give a short chronicle of the events of the period described (in parentheses after the texts are links to sources - the already mentioned island sites of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon).

“The disaster of the war between France and Britain ended the existence of the French colony in the city of Placentia in Newfoundland and in St. Pierre and Miquelon. The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 forced the inhabitants of St. Pierre into exile on Île Royale (now Cape Breton, Nova Scotia)” (st-pierre-et-miquelon.com).

In turn, later French-speaking settlers expelled from Nova Scotia (formerly French Acadia), which came under British control, arrived in Miquelon. The same site states:

“Miquelon, in its history and culture, is intertwined with the destinies of Acadia. Soon after the Acadian expulsion of 1755, hundreds of Acadian families sought refuge in Miquelon. Today Miquelon is proud of its heritage, natural and historical monuments...

The 1763 treaty returned the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to France” (st-pierre-et-miquelon.com).

(Acadia is a former French colony, now Nova Scotia in Canada. Acadians are the Francophone inhabitants of this colony, expelled by Great Britain, which occupied it. The deportation began after the Francophones refused to swear allegiance to the British government. Note site).

The occupation of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and the deportation of the inhabitants in 1778-1783 occurred after France supported the struggle of American settlers with Great Britain. During that War of Independence, the United States was created:

“French support for the American War of Independence ultimately targeted only one target: on September 13, 1778, five British ships under the command of Commander Evans entered the harbor of Saint-Pierre and destroyed the city. Baron de Esperance was unable to defend the city and capitulated. The inhabitants were evacuated and taken to Western France, where they eked out a miserable existence in poverty until the British restored the buildings on the island” (grandcolombier.com).

This British occupation of the islands, under the governor Commander Evans, lasted from 17 September 1778 to 28 July 1783, when the former French governor, Charles Gabriel Sebastien, Baron de Esperance, returned to power after the signing of the Franco-English Treaty of 1783.

However, in the period 1783-1789. The French royal budget was unable to allocate sufficient funds not for the restoration of the island, nor even for the restoration of the fortifications of Saint-Pierre, the site grandcolombier.com notes in its essay.

In 1789, a revolution took place in Paris. By 1793, the king was executed in France, the French Republic was expanding its expansion, and Great Britain joined the anti-French coalition. Some residents of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon fled from the revolution from the archipelago to the British colonies, others, on the contrary, supported the revolution:

“The traditionalist Acadian population of Miquelon, firmly in loyalty to the Catholic faith and the king on the throne of France, left the colony, traveling from the island of Miquelon to the nearby (British) island of Madeleine.

And on May 5, 1793, news of the war between England and France reached the island of Saint-Pierre. Nine days later, at six o'clock in the morning, 300 British troops, three frigates and four other ships under the command of Rear Admiral King and Brigadier General Olgwi brought an end to North America's smallest republican experiment. Over the next year, 1,500 residents of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, who did not have time to escape, were captured by 160 British troops. During the fall of 1794, the rest of the population was sent to Halifax, where they remained until 1796.

British efforts to restore Saint-Pierre to re-establish the fisheries for their own purposes prompted a counter campaign (1796) by the French (revolutionary) Admiral Richerie, who destroyed 80 British fishing vessels and the buildings of Saint-Pierre, failing to attack (British) Saintes -Jones (in Newfoundland)" (grandcolombier.com).

Perhaps these were the most turbulent years in the history of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Between 1778 and 1793, the main city of the islands was destroyed three times.

“Despite deportations in 1778 and 1793, the islands returned to France in 1816” (st-pierre-et-miquelon.com).

Saint Pierre and Miquelon are among the first forced supporters of de Gaulle

Since 1816, the islands lived without any major destructive shocks, even The First and Second World Wars generally bypassed the archipelago.

But the local website st-pierre-et-miquelon.com also talks about the sacrifices suffered by the islanders during the two world wars:

“During both world wars, the people of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon showed great sacrifice. More than a quarter of the conscripts from Saint-Pierre and Miquelon who participated in the First World War died. In World War II, the islands rallied around de Gaulle's Free France in 1941."

As for the Second World War, then Saint-Pierre and Miquelon were among the first French territories to fall under de Gaulle's rule. True, on December 24, 1941, the Free French flotilla under the command of Admiral Muselier entered the harbor of Saint-Pierre. The islands surrendered without resistance. De Gaulle carried out this step without the consent of the American and Canadian governments, but in agreement with the British Prime Minister Churchill.

But even in the months leading up to de Gaulle's invasion, the Canadian military had talked about the possibility of occupying Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, which had been controlled by the pro-Hitler French Vichy administration since France's defeat in 1940. The Allies were concerned about a radio station operating in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, which the Canadian military claimed was used to coordinate the activities of German submarines in this part of the Atlantic. However, the then Prime Minister of Canada, Mackenzie King, did not give his sanction to the invasion.

The Vichy governor in Saint-Pierre continued to maneuver for some time, negotiating to obtain American government loans to ensure the life of the islands under the guarantee of the gold and foreign exchange reserves of France, defeated by the Germans. However, his activities ended after the aforementioned invasion by the Free French forces, and a few months later the Gaullists organized a referendum on the accession of the archipelago to the Free French. At this plebiscite, the islanders voted to go over to the side of the anti-Hitler coalition and recognized the Free French government of de Gaulle.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Economy:

Are cod and alcohol a thing of the past? Oil in the future?

In an illustration from the archive: The population of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon can no longer live by fishing.

The archipelago's exclusive economic zone (indicated in gray on the map) is now limited to 12 nautical miles in the east, 24 nautical miles in the west, and an elongated narrow corridor from north to south 200 nautical miles in length and 10 in width.

The main wealth of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, which was for centuries and until recently the basis of the economy of the islands, was first described to the world by Giovanni Caboto. This is how French sites, including the sites of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, prefer to call one of the explorers and discoverers of North America John Cabot. Indeed, Giovanni Caboto is more correct, because Caboto was an Italian, a Genoese in the English service.

AND this discoverer was amazed by the abundance of cod around the islands almost 500 years ago.

The famous Great Newfoundland Bank with rich fish stocks has always delighted the fishermen of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

But Since the 1980s, fish prosperity in the archipelago began to come to an end. Modern fish processing facilities in San Pierre are now either operating at half capacity, or are idle, and fishermen are receiving unemployment benefits, or are trying to leave or change their occupation. For example, start artificially breeding cod in giant cages.

At the same time, there are no external signs of desolation on the island, thanks to the generous financial assistance of the metropolis. Since the 1960s, French government subsidies have made up half of the islands' budget. This led to the reputation of the archipelago's inhabitants as "the most expensive French in the world". In the 2000s, it is estimated that Saint-Pierre and Miquelon received approximately US$60 million annually in direct aid from the French government alone.

The French authorities are trying to somehow diversify the economy, but not very successfully. Built for the purpose of developing tourism, the new Saint-Pierre airport, capable of accepting any type of aircraft, is 70% occupied by transporting the local population. So far, the archipelago's tourism campaign as "France in North America" has not been very successful.

In addition to encouraging tourism, trying to move away from traditional activities related to the sea (fishing itself, fish processing and activity as a supply base for the fishing fleet), the authorities and the population are now intensively engaged in the activities of breeding everything possible on farms: vegetables, poultry, cattle cattle, pigs, sheep, in nurseries: mink and foxes for fur. Artificial breeding of fish in cages has already been mentioned.

But what happened to the Newfoundland fish in a jar? Restrictions on its fishing were introduced.

Traditionally, Saint Pierre and Miquelon has been of significant economic interest due to fishing rights within its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Differences in France's and Canada's interpretations of the implementation of international rules have given rise to disputes between the two countries. Fishing disputes ended in the defeat of the islanders in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. And it’s not just the problem of the border of the exclusive economic zone.

It should be noted that in 1992-1993, Canada even imposed a complete ban on commercial cod fishing in the waters of Newfoundland for its fishermen, thus trying to stop the rapid decline in the population of this fish under the load of ultra-modern trawlers. Afterwards, fishing was allowed, but on a limited scale. At the same time, many Newfoundland fishermen remain without work.

For the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, negotiations also resulted in very small fishing quotas. The quota restrictions were supplemented by an international arbitration decision (without the right of appeal) made in New York in 1992. This decision established that the exclusive economic zone of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is now limited to 12 nautical miles in the east, 24 nautical miles in the west, and a north-south corridor of 200 nautical miles in length and 10 in width.

So now the islanders look back on the golden age of fish in the history of their archipelago with the same nostalgia as the golden age of alcohol. There was such a thing in the history of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

On October 8, 1919, Prohibition was adopted in the United States, after which the archipelago experienced an incredible economic takeoff. Local website grandcolombier.com describes the beginning and end of the alcoholic golden age in Saint Pierre and Miquelon:

“Powerful syndicates have chosen the islands as a base for rum supply, along with the east coast of (Canadian) Nova Scotia and New England. The taxation system in Saint Pierre and Miquelon and the economic activity of importing and exporting spirits have brought employment back to all islanders.

However, alcohol prohibition was quickly repealed with the 21st Amendment to the American Constitution in 1933. Under pressure from the United States, France banned the illegal alcohol trade on the islands in 1935. Islanders quickly came to the realization that the local economy was once again being torn to shreds. During the alcohol trading operations, workers lost interest in hard work at sea. Although fishing opportunities remained, many did not want to return to it. Immigration to Canada has resumed and entire families have left their depressed islands,” the site notes.

But let's return to the present. In recent years, oil exploration has begun in the coastal waters of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and drilling rigs have appeared. Oil has not yet been produced, but the islanders are frozen in anticipation.

Some attractions islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

The attraction of the island capital of Saint-Pierre is said to be its streets, which present a unique combination of rural France and the Atlantic coast of Canada, usually contrasted with the American lifestyle.

Of the main architectural attractions of the town of Saint-Pierre, we note the Cathedral (Built in 1805-1807 on the site of the cathedral that was burned in 1802, which, in turn, stands on the site of the ancient church of Saint-Pierre, built in 1690).

Interesting facts from historySaint Pierre and Miquelon

Based on materials from the island website st-pierre-et-miquelon.com

(we quote from the English version of the site with our notes)

“The only time the guillotine was ever used in North America occurred at Saint-Pierre on August 24, 1889. This story served as the basis for the film "The Widow of St. Pierre Island." And that guillotine is currently on display in the State Museum of Saint-Pierre.”

Note that the widow in this 2000 French film refers to the guillotine (this was her common nickname in post-revolutionary France).

According to the plot of the film, a guillotine is being transported to Saint-Pierre from Martinique for the execution of a dangerous criminal under revolutionary laws. Before this, the archipelago did not have its own guillotine. During the course of this story and while waiting for the execution weapon, the criminal “corrects”; as a result, the islanders no longer want to execute him. As for why in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon they were waiting for the arrival of the guillotine and could not execute criminals without it, the point is in the decision of the revolutionary General Assembly in Paris, according to which executions at that time could only be carried out through beheading and only with the help of the guillotine, i.e. .To. It was then believed that this was the most humane method of execution.

“About six hundred shipwrecks are known off the coast of the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.”.

Note that The waters around the archipelago are treacherous, and the weather is foggy.
“The city of Saint-Pierre was burned to the ground in 1778 by the British in retaliation for French support of the American Revolution. And in 1794, the French admiral Richerie destroyed the city as retaliation for the British deportation of the entire population in 1793."
For more details, see this review.

“Every spring, whales migrating towards Greenland appear off the coast of Saint-Pierre, providing an opportunity to observe them.”

Also noteworthy is the lighthouse and fortifications with preserved ancient cannons Pointe aux Canons near the harbor of St. Pierre. The cannon batteries, according to one island website, defended “the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon during the British raids of 1690-1713. In the 19th century, these cannon batteries were installed as a precaution during the Crimean War."

Not far from the Saint-Pierre harbor lighthouse, you can see a pier with buildings where fish were salted and gear was stored.

Other interesting places in Saint-Pierre include the government building of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.— Terr. (General) Council, as well as the House of Justice next door, a post office built at the beginning of the 20th century, a blacksmith shop, and an ancient cemetery. On a hill with an excellent view of the city, there is a monument in the form of a cross in memory of the Catholic traditions of the islands. Next to the State Museum of Saint Pierre and Miquelon there is a small war memorial in memory of the First and Second World Wars.

Miquelon, unlike Saint-Pierre, has much fewer attractions: a church, a lighthouse, a cemetery, as well as the highest place on the island called Cap with an excellent view.

Now about the sights of the island of Ile aux Marins, inhabited only in summer, located at the entrance to the harbor of the town of Saint-Pierre. On Ile aux Marins you can see a fishing village abandoned by residents. There is also an old cannon battery built at the same time as in Saint-Pierre, as well as a cemetery, but much older than in Saint-Pierre. We also mention the monument to the Pacific shipwrecks, which is an impressive piece of iron, visible for many kilometers. The sculpture marks the north-eastern coast of Ile aux Marins, where strong gale winds blow in winter.

In Langlade, which is uninhabited in winter, country life is in full swing in summer, and Bird watching is common on the Grande Colombiere.

This review used materials from official and semi-official websites of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon: st-pierre-et-miquelon.com, grandcolombier.com (English versions of resources), saint-pierre-et-miquelon.pref.gouv.fr (French. version); French broadcasting website for the country's overseas territories (where you can listen to Radio Saint-Pierre and Miquelon online) radio.rfo.fr; Information from the documentary film “Saint Pierre and Miquelon” (Produced by the French state television channel France 3 in 2005) and other materials were also used; Illustrations were used from the sites of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and from the archive.

Portalostranah

Almost a third of North America belonged - from Quebec to Louisiana. Today, all that remains of the imperial possessions are two microscopic islands somewhere in the armpit of Newfoundland: Saint Pierre and Miquelon. There is always fog, rain and cold here.

Nearly one third of North America—from Quebec to Louisiana—once belonged to France. Today, all that’s left of these imperial possessions are two microscopic islands somewhere in the armpit of Newfoundland: Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It's always foggy, rainy, and cold here.

The streets here are deserted.

The streets are empty.

And deserted.

Nordic character.

The place has a Nordic feel.

The main feature of the country is wooden garbage bins at every home. Most often, this is an octagonal chest with a special stop on top so that the lid does not break off.

The wooden trash crates outside every house are the country’s main detail. Most of them are octagonal chests with a special stop at the top to prevent the lid from snapping off.

Some people paint their chest the color of the house.

Some people paint their chest the color of their house.

And some are not shy and decorate them especially beautifully.

And some go all out and make it look extra-pretty.

Ashtray at the airport.

An ashtray at the airport.

Each house has its own oil boiler for heating.

Every house has its own oil boiler for heating.

Pole with telephone equipment.

A pillar with telephone equipment housed inside.

Phone booth.

Slots for letters in the wall of the post office.

Slots for mail in the wall of a post office.

Car number.

A license plate.

Street signs.

Street name plaques.

The windows to the basements are decorated with glass blocks with figuratively frozen patterns.

Basements have glass block windows with a decorative solidified bubble pattern inside the glass.

On rare days when there is no rain outside, everyone dries clothes on lines, one end attached to the house, the other to a pole with a roller.

On the rare days when it’s not raining out, everyone dries their laundry on clotheslines. One end of the line is secured to the house and the other to a pole with a pulley on it.

The country is so small that the owner of the best hotel herself comes by car to pick up arriving guests. The drive to the city is exactly three minutes. You’ll take a walk, have dinner, spend the night, and in three minutes you’ll be back at the airport.

The country is so small that the owner of the best hotel drives out to the airport personally to pick up arriving guests. It takes exactly three minutes to get to the city. You can take a walk, have dinner, spend the night—and then be back at the airport in three minutes.

Geographical position

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is an overseas community that is part of France. It is located on small islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 20 km south of the Canadian island of Newfoundland in Cabot Strait. These islands are the only territory left to France from the former colony of New France.
Area of the islands is 242 km².
The largest island is Miquelon (216 km²), and the bulk of the population lives on the second largest island, Saint-Pierre. Saint Pierre and Miquelon occupies an archipelago of 8 islands.
It consists of 3 relatively large islands - Saint-Pierre, Miquelon and Langlade, as well as 5 small islands - Grand Colombier, Petit Colombier, Ile aux Marins (Ile aux Cheyennes) and others.
Total length The coastline is about 120 km.
The capital is the city of Saint-Pierre, which is located on the island of the same name.
The islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are composed of ancient rocks, and there are deposits from the Ice Age.
The shores of the islands are heavily indented, steep and difficult to access. The interior of the islands has a hilly topography. The highest point of the country has a height of 240 meters, it is located on the island of Miquelon. The islands have a large number of streams and small rivers.

How to get there

You can fly to the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by Air Saint-Pierre from Saint John Airport, located on Novaya Zemlya, from Sydney or Halifax. From Paris via Montreal there is a direct flight from Air France. There are also regular flights between the islands. The islands are connected to Novaya Zemlya by regular ferry service.

Visa

Citizens of Russia and the CIS must obtain a visa to enter the islands.

The islands belong to the overseas possessions of France, Therefore, you need to contact the consular section of the French Embassy:
You can import and export means of payment without restrictions. An amount exceeding 7,000 euros must be included in the declaration. Foreign currency converted into euros cannot be converted into foreign currency again in full, but only up to the equivalent of 500 euros.

You can import small amounts of alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, tea, perfume, as well as some food and other goods into the country duty-free. Labeling expiration dates on food products is mandatory.

Climate

The islands have a subpolar climate. In winter, the average temperature is minus three degrees, but sometimes it reaches minus forty degrees, and a large amount of snow falls. In summer it is cool here, the average temperature is plus sixteen degrees. When humid air masses from the ocean collide, they lead to frequent fogs - the most foggy days are at the beginning and middle of the summer. In spring and autumn the weather is usually clear and windy.

Population

Population according to census In 1999 there were 5618 inhabitants, and according to the 2009 census there were 5478 inhabitants. As of 2012, it was estimated at about 5,400 people. About 90% of the inhabitants of the entire archipelago live here. The vast majority live in the city of Saint-Pierre, which is also the capital of the overseas community.

Nature

On the islands due to the climate and human activities, the flora and fauna are not very diverse.

Coniferous and deciduous forests on the islands grow mainly on flat areas and hillsides, which are more or less protected from the wind. The main woody plants of the forests are spruce, dwarf spruce and birch. At this time, the areas occupied by forests have been greatly reduced due to their uncontrolled felling and harvesting of wood for firewood. Herbs are represented on the islands by species characteristic of swampy meadows and peat bogs and resemble the vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra.

Animal world The islands are represented by marine mammals and birds, mostly marine ones. On Miquelon, Saint-Pierre and adjacent islands and rocks there are quite large colonies of cormorants, gulls and penguins, as well as seal rookeries.

Tourism

Tourism industry of the islands' national economy is not developed and, mainly because the islands are not interesting from the point of view of the presence of cultural and historical monuments. Climatic and natural conditions do not allow the development of resort activities. The islands of the archipelago are visited occasionally by tourists and guests, but this fact is not widespread.

You can get to the islands by air (there are small airfields on both islands) or by sea, which is how communication is maintained between the islands themselves.

Hotels, hotels, prices

Hotels on the islands different categories, but the quality of service in any of them is not inferior to European. They have all the conditions for a good rest.