The St. Lawrence River is one of the largest rivers in North America. It flows from west to east, connecting the freshwater lake system with the Atlantic Ocean.
The St. Lawrence River is one of the largest rivers in North America. Its basin runs through the United States and Canada, connecting the freshwater lakes of St. Clair, Ontario, Erie, Michigan, Huron, and Lake Superior with the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the St. Lawrence River is 1,197 kilometers and the basin area is 1,030,000 kilometers.
The river basin is one of the most densely populated areas in Canada. It is home to agricultural land and villages with a population of about 20 million. The valleys grow potatoes, crops and vegetables, and graze livestock.
The relief along the coastline of the river is very diverse, sheer cliffs alternate with valleys and hills. Due to the increased seismic activity, the coastline is severely broken. In some places, there are fjords, the largest of which is the Saguenay fjord, which has a depth of 244 meters and a length of more than 96 kilometers.
Flora and fauna
Birds nest on the banks of the river. The coastal swamps are home to about 300 representatives of birds. The waters of the river are home to several hundred species of fish, as well as blue whales, beluga whales, minke whales and fin whales. Most often, minke whales emerge from the water, while blue whales are rare.
The flora in the coastal zone is represented by conifers. Thuja, fir, Douglasia grow along the banks.
Saguenay Saint Laurent National Park
The Saint Lawrence River section, located in the southeast of Quebec, is part of the Marine National Park. There are hiking trails and recreation areas for tourists in the park. Also, vacationers are offered all kinds of sports activities: rock climbing (routes of the via ferrata category), fishing from a boat, kayaking and yachting, and in winter snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Economic value
The St. Lawrence River is a source of hydropower. Three hydroelectric power plants have been built on it. The most powerful is the St. Lawrence Hydroelectric Power Plant (output 1.9 GW) and is used by the United States and Canada. HPP Robert-Sander is the second in terms of capacity (1.7 GW), the HPP belongs to Canada. The third hydroelectric power station is located 40 kilometers from Montreal - Beauarnois (the generated capacity is 1.6 GW).
Navigation is well developed on the river. Large cargo ships run between Quebec and Montreal, delivering millions of tons of cargo annually to ports. During freeze-up, which lasts from December to April, navigation in the upper reaches of the river stops.
