Gaspé, Quebec
Gaspé, Quebec
| Gaspé | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Ville de Gaspé | |
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|
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| Coordinates: 48°50′N 64°29′W / 48.833°N 64.483°WCoordinates: 48°50′N 64°29′W / 48.833°N 64.483°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Quebec |
| Region | Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine |
| RCM | La Côte-de-Gaspé |
| Constitution | January 1, 1971 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | François Roussy |
| Area | |
| - Land | 1,120.62 km2 (432.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 14,819 |
| - Density | 13.2/km2 (34.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC−5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC−4) |
| Postal code | G4X |
| Area code(s) | 418 |
| Website | http://www.ville.gaspe.qc.ca |
Gaspé is a city at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of eastern Quebec, Canada. As of the 2006 census, the city had a total population of 14,819.
Gaspé is where Jacques Cartier took possession of Nouvelle-France (now Canada) in the name of Francois I of France on July 24, 1534.
Contents |
History
"Gaspé" may come from the Mi'kmaq word "Gespeg" which means "Land's end". However, according to the "Commission de toponymie of Quebec", Gaspé may be a mutation of the Basque word "Gerizpe" which means "shade", with the figurative meaning "sheltered place". This may be why Jacques Cartier considered it; he actually halted in the Bay after losing an anchor during a storm. On July 24, 1534, he officially took possession of the area by planting a wooden cross with the king's coat of arms and the sentence "Vive le Roi de France" (meaning: Life (to) the King of France), meaning François 1st. This is why Gaspé claims the title of "French-Canada's Cradle".
Economy
The regional hospital is the main employer in the city. Tourism is a very important part of the city and the region's economy. Thousands flock to the city every summer to enjoy the environment and the surrounding attractions.
Transportation
Gaspé is accessible by automobile, Via Rail's Montreal – Gaspé train, and the Gaspé Airport.
Climate
| Climate data for Gaspé | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 10.9 (51.6) |
13.7 (56.7) |
18.2 (64.8) |
27.5 (81.5) |
30 (86) |
33.9 (93) |
34.8 (94.6) |
34.1 (93.4) |
33.2 (91.8) |
25 (77) |
22.2 (72) |
13.3 (55.9) |
34.8 (94.6) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −6 (21) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
0.5 (32.9) |
6 (43) |
13.8 (56.8) |
19.9 (67.8) |
23 (73) |
22.3 (72.1) |
17.3 (63.1) |
10.4 (50.7) |
3.5 (38.3) |
−2.8 (27) |
8.6 (47.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.9 (10.6) |
−10.8 (12.6) |
−5 (23) |
1.4 (34.5) |
7.6 (45.7) |
13.2 (55.8) |
16.6 (61.9) |
15.9 (60.6) |
11.1 (52) |
5.2 (41.4) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
2.9 (37.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −17.6 (0.3) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
−10.4 (13.3) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
1.3 (34.3) |
6.4 (43.5) |
10.2 (50.4) |
9.4 (48.9) |
4.9 (40.8) |
0 (32) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −35.5 (-31.9) |
−32 (-26) |
−29.2 (-20.6) |
−20.1 (-4.2) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−3.9 (25) |
1.7 (35.1) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
−5 (23) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−21.1 (-6) |
−32.2 (-26) |
−35.5 (-31.9) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 89.8 (3.535) |
59 (2.32) |
104.4 (4.11) |
103.8 (4.087) |
90.8 (3.575) |
73.4 (2.89) |
107.7 (4.24) |
91.2 (3.591) |
70 (2.76) |
111.3 (4.382) |
102.9 (4.051) |
112.8 (4.441) |
1,117.1 (43.98) |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
International relationships
Gaspé is twinned with:
Puerto Montt, Chile (2005)
Saint-Malo, France (2009)
Nearby towns
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Cloridorme | Saint Lawrence River | Honguedo Strait | |
| Murdochville |  |
Saint Lawrence River | ||
 Gaspé  |
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| Mont-Alexandre | Percé |
- ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data". Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population. 2007-03-13. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=302&SR=201&S=1&O=A&RPP=25&PR=24&CMA=0. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
- ^ Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 17 July 2010
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