Anticosti

Anticosti Island, located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Quebec, is Canada’s UNESCO gem (inscribed in 2023). Spanning over 9,000 square kilometers, it is a wild, rugged expanse of limestone cliffs, deep canyons, and coastal plateaus. Known historically as the “Graveyard of the Gulf” due to its numerous shipwrecks, it is now celebrated as a premier natural laboratory for the history of life on Earth.

Attraction

Anticosti is a magnet for eco-adventurers and those seeking extreme solitude:

The “Graveyard” Legends: Explorers can still find rusted shipwrecks along its 550-km coastline, such as the Wilcox wreck.
White-Tailed Deer: The island is home to over 37,000 deer, a population introduced in the 1890s that has since flourished, outnumbering humans roughly 150 to 1.
Geological Grandeur: The Vauréal Falls (Chute Vauréal) is a breathtaking 76-meter drop, nearly double the height of Niagara Falls, accessible via a rugged canyon hike.
Wilderness Activities: It is world-renowned for Atlantic salmon fishing, sea kayaking, and exploring one of Quebec’s longest caves, Grotte-à-la-Patate.

Heritage

Inscribed in 2023, Anticosti is recognized under Criterion (viii):

The First Mass Extinction: The island contains the most complete and best-preserved fossil record of marine life from the end of the Ordovician period (447–437 million years ago).
Geological Record: Its limestone layers provide a 10-million-year continuous stratigraphic archive of the first global mass extinction event, offering unparalleled insights into ancient climate change and rising sea levels.

Gateway

Sept-Îles (YZV): This city serves as the main logistical hub.
- Airport: Sept-Îles Airport handles commercial flights from Montreal and Quebec City.
- Lodging: Features modern hotels like the Hôtel Gouverneur Sept-Îles.
Transit to the Island: From Sept-Îles or Havre-Saint-Pierre, travelers take a short regional flight (Air Liaison) or the Bella Desgagnés ferry to Port-Menier, the island’s only village.

When

June to September: The main tourist season. Late June to August is prime time for salmon fishing.
September: Offers cooler weather, fewer insects, and stunning autumn foliage.
Winter: Largely closed to general tourism, though accessible to experienced snowmobilers.

Consideration

Isolation: There is no cell service or internet across most of the island. Rental vehicles from Sépaq come equipped with radio-transceivers for safety.
Logistics: You cannot bring your own vehicle easily; you must typically rent a sturdy pickup truck in Port-Menier.
Planning: Accommodations and flights must be booked months (or even a year) in advance due to extremely limited capacity.
Supplies: Port-Menier has very limited services. Most visitors bring or pre-order their groceries through Sépaq packages.

Resources

UNESCO – Anticosti: Official documentation regarding its geological significance.
Sépaq Anticosti: The primary authority for booking lodging, 4×4 rentals, and fishing packages.
Tourisme Anticosti: The local tourism office providing ferry schedules and village information.
Parks Canada – Anticosti: National overview of the island’s culture and heritage.
Audley Travel – Anticosti Trip Planning: A commercial site offering tailor-made luxury wilderness itineraries and guided logistics.