Miquelon-Langlade
Template:Infobox French commune Template:Infobox islands
Miquelon-Langlade ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is the larger but less populated of the two communes (municipalities) making up the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, located Template:Cvt to the south of Newfoundland in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It consists of three islands: Miquelon (also called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), Langlade (Petite Miquelon) and Le Cap, connected by narrow tombolos (sandy isthmi).<ref name="bird">Template:Cite book</ref> The communal seat is the settlement of Miquelon, on the northern tip, where the entire island's permanent population of 596 (as of 2022) is located.<ref name=pop2022 /> Miquelon Airport provides flights to nearby Saint-Pierre Airport.
ToponymyEdit
The name Miquelon purportedly derived from a Basque nickname for "Michael" (Mikel). In 1579, the names Micquetõ and Micquelle appeared for the first time in French Basque mariner Martin de Hoyarçabal's maritime pilot. The name evolved over time into Miclon, Micklon, and finally Miquelon (Mikelune in Basque).<ref name="ibp"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
GeographyEdit
Located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, west of Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula, Miquelon-Langlade covers a total land area of Template:Convert. It comprises three islands connected by tombolos: Le Cap in the north, Miquelon (Grand Miquelon) in the center, and Langlade (Petite Miquelon) in the south.
A tombolo sandspit called La Dune connects Miquelon and Langlade, that formed in the 18th century that is Template:Cvt long and Template:Cvt wide.<ref name= "ibp"/><ref>Transport Miquelonnais Template:Webarchive</ref> In the eighteenth century it was still possible to sail a boat between Miquelon and Langlade, but by the end of that century La Dune had closed in to form an isthmus between the islands.<ref name="miquelonais">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The tombolo connecting Miquelon and Le Cap is Template:Cvt long and in places less than Template:Cvt wide.
The island of Saint Pierre is across a treacherous and foggy Template:Cvt strait that fishermen named "The Mouth of Hell" (Template:Langx) that has been the site of more than 600 shipwrecks.<ref name="ibp"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
MiquelonEdit
Miquelon's coastline includes numerous sand and pebble beaches enclosing lagoons, as well as high rocky cliffs standing up to Template:Cvt on the east coast. Its geology consists of slightly metamorphosed post-Ordovician volcanic rocks, mainly rhyolites with breccias, andesites and basalts. On the south of the Miquelon Island is the Grand Barachois, a large lagoon which is host to a large population of seals and other wildlife. Miquelon is also a well known destination for bird watching.<ref name="bird"/>
LangladeEdit
Located at Template:Convert west of Saint Pierre Island, Langlade is an ancient peneplain drained by numerous short rivers, including the Belle, the largest, which flows to the northwest.<ref>Saint Pierre & Miquelon. Territorial Collectivity of France, in the North America Template:Webarchive</ref> The coast of Langlade is lined with steep cliffs, except to the northwest.
ClimateEdit
The climate is typical of the North Atlantic and the Labrador Current, with frequent storms and winds that exceed Template:Cvt for nearly six months of the year. The summers are cool and foggy. The average annual temperature is Template:Cvt.<ref name="bird"/> Köppen–Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as sub-Arctic (Dfc).<ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Summers are mild while winters are cold. It receives precipitation all year.
EtymologyEdit
The name Miquelon is of Basque origin and is thought to mean "Michael", as several fishermen with this name were established in the island. In 1579, the names Micquetõ, Micquelle appeared for the first time in Martin de Hoyarçabal's navigational pilot. The name evolved over time into Miclon, Micklon, and finally Miquelon.
The residents are known as Miquelonnais(e)(s).<ref name=edward/>
DemographicsEdit
Miquelon-Langlade consists of the commune (also called Miquelon-Langlade), with a population of 596 in 2022.<ref name=pop2022 /> The majority of the residents live in the village of Miquelon, located in the north of the island near Le Cap, <ref name=edward>Template:Cite book</ref> north of a shallow lagoon (barachois) and has a small harbour protected with constructed breakwaters along the eastern side of the isthmus.
On the northern coast of Langlade, there are settlements at the coves of Anse du Gouvernement, Anse aux Soldats and Le Ruisseau Debons, consisting mainly of holiday cottages.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The population of Miquelon-Langlade is mainly of Basque and Acadian ancestry.
TransportationEdit
Template:See also Miquelon Airport is located adjacent to Miquelon village; Air Saint-Pierre operates regularly scheduled daily flights to Saint-Pierre Airport.
SPM Ferries provides service to and from Saint Pierre town from both Miquelon village and Anse du Gouvernement on Langlade. SPM also connects Miquelon town directly with Fortune, Newfoundland, Canada once or twice weekly. A ferry service connects Miquelon town with Anse du Gouvernement on Langlade in summer months.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The main asphalt road runs from the capital along the eastern coast of Miquelon, across the Langlade tombolo and ending in Le Ruisseau Debons on Langlade.
FacilitiesEdit
At Miquelon village facilities include (as of 2024):<ref name="mmap">Template:Cite book</ref>
- The Centre Médical de Miquelon (basic medical care; more advanced services are available in Saint-Pierre and St. John's)
- Football (soccer) pitch Stade de l'Avenir ("stadium of the future") of the Association Sportive Miquelonnaise (Miquelon sports association)
- Police, fire and ferry stations, library, post office, public restrooms, tourist information office
- Government offices: mairie, prefecture, and délégation territoriale
SchoolsEdit
- Ecole du socle de Miquelon, which houses:<ref>"Ecole du socle de Miquelon." National Education Service of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Retrieved on September 14, 2016.</ref> As of the 2014–2015 school year the junior high school had 25 students.<ref>"Ecole du socle de Miquelon >Présentation." National Education Service of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Retrieved on September 14, 2016.</ref>
- the private contracted nursery school / preschool Soeur Hilarion
- public elementary school Les Quatre Temps
- public junior high school Collège de Miquelon
The government high school / sixth-form programmes serving Miquelon are at Lycée-Collège d'État Émile Letournel on Saint-Pierre island.
Museums and activitiesEdit
The Maison de la Nature et de L'Environnement ("Nature and Environment Center") provides self-guided tours of both the Cormorandière Valley and of the whole island. It hosts the art/craft vendor Art passion. Its Centre d'interprétation ("interpretation centre") features exhibits on geography, climate, biodiversity, and history through and interactive permanent axibilts that leads visitors through nature habitats.<ref name="mmap"/>
The Musée de Miquelon ("museum of Miquelon") explains the origin of the island's people, including objects, customs and activities.<ref name="mmap"/>
In summer, Saveurs Fermièrres ("farm flavours"), a goat farm, teaches about goats and cheesemaking, and offers tastings of local farm products.<ref name="mmap"/>
There are numerous hiking routes: Le Chemin des Boeufs, Pointe Plate, Les Buttes dégarnies et la Grand Barachois, Belliveau, Le Cap de Miquelon, La Tête Pelé, and Les Trois Sapins. There is a nature observatory Observatoire du Grand Barachois and several camping areas.<ref name="mmap"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
At Anse du GouvernementEdit
At Anse du Gouvernement on Langlade as of 2024, there is a bar, ferry station, grocery store, health care point, public restroom and restaurant, as well as the Sainte-Thérèse Roman Catholic chapel and the Centre de vacances de Langlade summer camp.<ref name="mmap"/>
LandmarksEdit
- Ampersand (&) sculpture,<ref name="mmap"/>
Festivals and eventsEdit
- Les 25 km de Miquelon ("the 25 km of Miquelon") half marathon race
- Bastille Day celebration with games, food, fireworks and dancing
- Le Festival des Produits de Mer (Seafood Festival)
- Le Dunefest music festival
GalleryEdit
- Miquelon shore.jpg
Miquelon shore
- Miquelon 9.jpg
The north coast of Miquelon, next to Le Cap
- Village de Miquelon.jpg
The village of Miquelon seen from the west
- Miquelon avion.jpg
Aerial view of Miquelon village
- Maison de Miquelon.jpg
Houses in Miquelon village
- Ecole à Miquelon.jpg
Miquelon's school building
- Borne kilométrique à Miquelon.jpg
Milestone to Miquelon village
- Port of saint-pierre, SPM.jpg
The port of Miquelon
- Monument acadien.jpg
Acadien monument
- Flag of Miquelon-Langlade.svg
Flag of Miquelon–Langlade
- Depuis le phare de Pointe Plate.jpg
View from the Pointe Plate lighthouse on Langlade towards Miquelon
- Chevaux - isthme de Langlade.jpg
Horse on Langlade isthmus
- De Miquelon vers Langlade.jpg
The road from Miquelon to Langlade
- Langlade - Anse du gouverneur.jpg
Langlade: Anse du Gouverneur cove.jpg
- Miquelon & Langlade Islands, FR.jpg
Snowcovered isthmus
- Pont sur belle rivière.jpg
Bridge over the Belle Rivière (river)
See alsoEdit
- Saint Pierre
- Municipal governments in Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- History of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- List of islands of France
- List of islands in the Atlantic Ocean
External linksEdit
Template:Sister project Template:Sister project Template:Wikivoyage
- Template:Official website
- Le Phare: Association of Tourism Professionals
- Local Airline Air Saint-Pierre
- 2012 French Presidential Election