The Gaspe Peninsula
Gaspé Peninsula (French:Gaspésie), a scenic peninsula in southeastern Quebec, Canada. From the Matapédia River it stretches 150 miles (240 km) eastward between the St. Lawrence River and Chaleur Bay to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Most of the peninsula is a hilly-to-mountainous extension of the Appalachians. The culture of the Gaspé Peninsula is predominantly French. There are no large cities, only coastal villages and towns. The main occupations are fishing and lumbering. Copper mining, at Murdochville, and tourism are also important. French claims to Canada originated when Jacques Cartier landed in this area in 1534.