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| Flag of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (unofficial) | Coat of arms of Saint Pierre and Miquelon |
- general
- water
242 km²
0 %
- The total number, (- census)
▼ 6080 people
25,12
The area of \u200b\u200bthe islands is 242 km². The population is 6080 people, according to the 2011 census.
Since the settlement of the islands (since the 17th century), the forest area has been greatly reduced due to the harvesting of wood for firewood. Natural reforestation in a very harsh climate is extremely slow, and as a result, the island of Saint-Pierre and the northern part of Miquelon are now practically devoid of any tree vegetation.
History
A French expedition led by Jacques Cartier discovered the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon in 1536.
The first permanent settlement was founded by the French in 1604, from Normandy and Brittany.
Since 1946, the islands have received the status of an overseas territory of France, since 19 July 1976 - the status of an overseas department of France, and since 11 June 1985 - the current status of the overseas community of France.
Control
The department of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is governed by a prefect appointed by the President of France.
Local government body - Territorial Council (19 members elected by the population for a 6-year term).
Transport and car rental Mineral resources Agriculture Tipping National characteristics Electricity Health careGeographical position
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is an overseas community that is part of France. It is located on small islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 20 km south of the Canadian island of Newfoundland in the Cabot Strait. These islands are the only territory left by France from the former colony of New France.
The area of \u200b\u200bthe islands is 242 km².
The largest island is Miquelon (216 km²), and the bulk of the population lives on the second largest island, Saint Pierre. Saint Pierre and Miquelon occupies an archipelago of 8 islands.
It consists of 3 relatively large islands - Saint Pierre, Miquelon and Langlade, as well as 5 small islands - Gran Colombier, Petit Colombier, Ile aux Marins (Ile aux Cheyenne) and others.
The total length of the coastline is about 120 km.
The capital is the city of Saint-Pierre, which is located on the island of the same name.
The islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are composed of ancient rocks, there are deposits of the Ice Age.
The shores of the islands are heavily indented, precipitous and inaccessible. The interior regions of the islands are hilly. The highest point of the country has a height of 240 meters, it is located on the island of Miquelon. The islands have a large number of streams and small rivers.
The country has a cool and very humid climate. In summer, average temperatures only reach 13-14 degrees. Due to the influence of the warm ocean current, the Gulf Stream, winters are quite mild here. Often, the temperature of the ocean water can be 7-15 C higher than the air temperature over the islands. The coldest month is February, with an average February temperature of -2.7 °. The winters on the islands are snowy.
Over 1400 mm of precipitation falls annually. Most of the year is characterized by cloudy weather with precipitation and strong winds. Fog lasts about 120 days a year.
The difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures can reach 15 degrees, especially during the autumn-winter period. At this time, the country is under the influence of cold arctic air masses.
In summer, there are often prolonged rains with drizzle and fog, in winter, sometimes up to a meter of snow falls.
The cold Labrador Current can lead to temperatures down to + 2-7 C even in summer.
Due to the collision of humid sea air masses, fogs are very often observed, especially often at the beginning and middle of summer. Windy and clear weather is typical for spring and autumn.
The sea off the coast of the islands rarely freezes. There is a frequent and sharp change in atmospheric pressure. The best time to visit the islands can be called the period from May to August.
Visas, entry regulations, customs regulations
Citizens of Russia and the CIS must apply for a visa to enter the islands. The islands belong to the overseas possessions of France, so you need to contact the consular section of the French embassy:
You can import and export means of payment without restrictions. An amount exceeding 7,000 euros must be entered in the declaration. Foreign currency converted into euros can be re-converted into foreign currency not in full, but only up to the equivalent of 500 euros.
A small amount of alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, tea, perfume, as well as some food and other goods can be brought into the country duty-free. In this case, labeling of the shelf life of food products is required.
It is forbidden to import into the country and export from it narcotic and psychotropic substances, items of historical value, weapons and ammunition, as well as animals and plants that are included in the list of endangered species.
To import medicines, you need to have a prescription for them issued by a doctor or lawyer. Plants, animals and plant products must be presented to quarantine officials. Animals must have a vaccination certificate as well as a medical certificate in French. This certificate must be issued no earlier than five days before departure.
Population, political status
The population of the country is about 7 thousand people. Most of the population of the islands are immigrants from France (Basques and Bretons).
Since 1985, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon has been a special self-governing territorial unit of France. The Department of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is governed by a prefect who is appointed by the President of France.
The local government is the Territorial Council, which consists of 19 members elected by the population for a 6-year term. Deputies are elected by secret general elections in the constituencies.
The population of the islands elects one French senator and one deputy to the French National Assembly.
The country is headed by the President of France. The head of government is the President of the General Council.
The state language is French.
What to see
The town of Saint-Pierre is the commercial and administrative center of the islands. It lies in the eastern part of the island of the same name. The city has a fairly well-developed modern infrastructure.
The whole appearance of the island testifies to its fishing past. Local attractions include the Alsatian-style post office, its clock tower and the nearby customs building.
The small square named after Charles de Gaulle is considered the city center. It is there that various festive events are traditionally held. On the square, tourists can see the Old Fountain and the House with a Tower. From the embankment near the square a magnificent panorama of the bay and the ocean opens.
The main attraction of the town is considered to be the Saint-Pierre Cathedral, located on the Place-Morer. The first temple was built on this site in 1690, then it was rebuilt many times. In 1902, this temple was destroyed by a fire; it was restored in 1905-1907.
The stained glass gallery of this temple is a gift to the island from General de Gaulle. To restore the spire in the 70s of the XX century, a stone was brought here from Alsace.
Around Place Morer are the buildings of the Government Quarter: the Palace of Justice, the Conseil-General complex, the Governor's office and the prefecture. To the north is the Fronton-Zaspyak-Bat arena, which is the venue for competitions in the traditional Basque sport - pelote.
Pointe-au-Cannon lighthouse stands on a breakwater protruding far into the harbor. It got its name from the cannon installed here. According to local residents, this gun participated in the Crimean War of the 19th century.
The old fort, almost completely destroyed, protected the island from British raids.
Several buildings of the Les-Salin fishing stations stretched north of the fort.
If you go south-west from Charles de Gaulle square, you can look into the Heritage Museum. This museum has an extensive historical collection.
On the waterfront is the Hotel Robber, which houses a small private museum, De la Proibision. The State Archives Museum and the War Memorial, located practically opposite it, are dedicated to the islanders who died during the two world wars.
Fort Lorraine on Rue Besson was built by the Free French troops in 1941-1943. The Kalvare Cross serves as a reminder of the islands' Catholic heritage.
On the island you can also visit the Cultural Center, scientific, educational and cultural Center Francoforum, as well as a skating rink. The Saint-Pierre Cemetery is famous for its unique "North American style".
On the southeast side of the island is the picturesque Galantry lighthouse. It was built in the 1970s on the site of the original 19th century lighthouse. A misty horn is heard from it, the sound of which is very popular with tourists.
Nearby, tourists can explore the private villa Cutty Sark, if its owners permit. This home is famous for being built from the wood of the legendary tea clipper.
The small island of Ile aux Marins is located at the throat of the harbor of Saint Pierre. It is a small fishing village. Here numerous old houses made of wood and wild stone stand half-abandoned. Here tourists can see the Church of Notre Dame des Marins, which was built in 1874 and is still used for services.
Opposite the church are the Archipelago Museum and City Hall. At the northwestern tip of the island is an old fort battery belonging to XIX century... In the picturesque building of Hesekel House, a fishing museum is currently open.
On the east coast you can see the rusting skeleton of the ship "Transpacific".
Miquelon is the largest and north island archipelago. It is formed by several smaller islands with long sandbars between them.
The only large settlement on this island is the village (commune) of Miquelon. It is located in the northeastern part of it. It is considered one of the most picturesque places on the planet. This small village is home to 500-600 people. It is surrounded by sand dunes on all sides.
The main attractions here are the wooden church of Miquelon and the stone Monument aux Mortes, located opposite each other, the old cemetery and the Museum of Miquelon lying on its edge, the compact government quarter in the center of the village and the Far du Cap Blanc lighthouse, towering on the west bank ...
The southernmost part of Miquelon is washed by a vast lagoon known as the Gran Barachua. It is home to a huge number of birds and other representatives of the fauna. You can watch birds here almost at any time of the year.
Also colorful northern cape the island of Le Cap, whose landscape is only emphasized by the uniqueness of the birds and other inhabitants of the sea living here. Every spring here you can watch whales that migrate to Greenland.
This island is linked to Miquelon by a long stretch of sand. It is famous for its beauty. The coast of the island is surrounded by steep cliffs. Usually on this island you can see only a small number of farmers who are engaged in farming here. But in summer time quite a large part of the inhabitants of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon rushes here on vacation.
The nature on this island is quite diverse. Here you can see steep cliffs, small forests and many wildlife.
Local attractions include the picturesque chapel, the Le Far de la Pointe Plata lighthouse. In the private museum of Clem Kuzik, tourists can see a collection of artifacts found on the shores of the island.
A large number of bird camps are scattered throughout Langlade.
The islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon have been inhabited since the Neolithic.
In 1521, the Portuguese navigator and explorer João Alvarez Fagundes became the first Europeans to sail along the shores of these islands.
These islands were discovered in 1536 by a French expedition led by Jacques Cartier.
The island got its name in honor of Saint Pierre, who is considered the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. In the XVI-XVII centuries, French fishermen used these lands as a base for seasonal cod fishing.
The first permanent settlement here was founded by the French in 1604, they came from Normandy and Brittany.
Until 1713, these islands were part of Acadia, a French colony in North America. She occupied the territory of the present Atlantic provinces of Canada. The Utrecht Peace Treaty was concluded in 1713. Under its terms, the French possessions along the shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the island of Newfoundland went to England.
In the period from 1763 to 1778 a large number of settlers from Acadia fled to the islands. In 1778, the islands were attacked by the British, and their entire population was exiled in retaliation for French support for the American Revolution. The islands were finally returned to the jurisdiction of France only in 1816. Since then, they remain the last fragment of the once vast North American possessions of this European power.
Since 1946, the islands have received the status of an overseas territory of France, and since 19 July 1976 - the status of an overseas department of France.
International trade
The main foreign trade partners of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are: Canada, USA. France, the Netherlands and the UK. The islands export fish and fish products, as well as fishing vessels. The volume of imports of the islands is several times higher than the volume of exports. The country imports most of its food, as well as manufactured goods and fuel.
The shops
Most of the shops on the islands are open Monday through Friday from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 1.30 to 18.00. Almost all shops have Saturdays and Sundays as days off. The only exceptions are some supermarkets and retail outlets in the port areas. All price tags in stores are drawn up with all taxes included.
The traditional sales season begins on the islands in the second half of January. According to French rules, a sale cannot last less than 6 weeks.
As souvenirs, you can bring various crafts from local artisans, which can be purchased at any market.
Demography
About 90% of the population is in Saint-Pierre, only about 700 people live in Miquelon. The city of Saint-Pierre, the largest on the islands, has a population of only 6,500.
Industry
The basis economic activity the countries are fishing and fish processing. Fishing is carried out in coastal waters by small vessels. Mainly cod is caught here.
On the islands there are workshops for processing fish, cod liver, there are also shipyards, and small machine-building plants operate.
Vegetable and animal world
The features of the relief and climate make it difficult for woody vegetation to grow on the islands.
Forests grow in valleys, on gentle hillsides, and in areas sheltered from the wind. They are mainly represented by spruce. On the windward slopes of the hills, thickets of dwarf spruce are common. Birch is the most widespread hardwood. Another type of vegetation in the archipelago is boggy meadows and sphagnum bogs (peat bogs). They are very similar to tundra vegetation.
The forest area has been greatly reduced due to the harvesting of wood for firewood.
Banks and money
Saint Pierre and Miquelon banknotes / currency converter
The official currency of the country is Euro, equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is an overseas possession of France, a group of eight islands in the Atlantic Ocean in Cabot Strait off the southern coast of Newfoundland. The islands, composed of crystalline rocks and glacial deposits, have rugged rocky shores. The relief is hilly, there are swampy plains, a dense network of small rivers and streams. Abundance of boulders - traces of the last glaciation.
Frequent coastal fogs (120 days a year), strong winds in the strait and snowy winters interfere with navigation in the island zone. Fortunately for local fishermen, the sea off the coast of the islands rarely freezes.
The islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon are separated by a 6 km strait with very strong currents. Local fishermen called it the Devil's Throat. It is not for nothing that sailors consider the waters around the islands to be insidious: there is evidence of more than 600 shipwrecks off the coast of the archipelago. Miquelon Island consists of three formerly separate islands. Since the XVIII century. sandy isthmuses began to grow between the islands. The inhabitants fortified them with stones and cement, creating a new large island.
The nature of the islands is extremely scarce: the once dense spruce and birch forests were almost completely cut down for firewood as early as the 17th century, natural regeneration of forests in a harsh climate is extremely slow. In place of the felled trees, thickets of low-growing northern varieties of spruce appeared. The fauna of the islands is also not rich in species and is represented mainly by seabirds and seals.
It is believed that the islands were discovered in 1520 by the Portuguese navigator João Alvares Fagundish (1460-1522).
In 1536 the French traveler Jacques Cartier (1491-1557) visited the islands and saw that there were French ships in its bays, and their crews called these islands Saint-Pierre. Presumably, the French fishermen themselves gave them the name in honor of St. Peter - the patron saint of fishermen. The island of Miquelon got its own name around the same years, but what this name means is not exactly known.
In 1670 the islands were visited by Jean Talon (1626-1694) - the intendant (governor) of New France, the French colonial possessions in North America. His records are the first confirmation of the existence of a permanent settlement on the islands, in which 17 fishermen from Brittany and Normandy lived.
Subsequently, the French built a small church and barracks here for the military garrison. The troops were required not only to protect the colony from the constant attacks of the British. They had to use weapons to resolve bloody conflicts over catch between sedentary fishermen and those who arrived on ships only for the season.
The islands turned into a real battlefield between the French and the British during the War of King William 1688-1697. and the Queen Anne Wars 1702-1713 for the possession of colonies in North America. France was defeated, and according to the Utrecht Peace Treaty of 1713 gave the islands to England.
Subsequently, the islands changed ownership more than once, until a final agreement was reached in 1816, and the islands remained with France.
In 1985, the archipelago received the rights of a special territorial unit of France.
The last conflict over the islands occurred in 1992, when a maritime border dispute between France and Canada broke out over the size of the exclusive economic zone around the islands, which belongs to France. The dispute was settled in international arbitration, but France received only about a fifth of what it demanded.
The importance of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is explained not so much by the economic potential as by the advantageous strategic location of the islands. European states fought for control over these territories for a long time.
New France - La-France-Nouvelle - the name of the French possessions in North America from 1534 to 1763. This name was given to them in 1534 by Jacques Cartier. After France ceded Newfoundland to England (in 1713), and by 1763 almost all of its Canadian colonies, except Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, its inhabitants suffered a lot. In 1778, the population of the islands was deported, and all houses were destroyed: the British authorities expelled everyone for supporting the American Revolution and the American struggle for independence from England. Subsequently, only a few of the old residents managed to return to the islands. 
In 1793, the British again expelled all inhabitants from the islands for supporting the Great French Revolution of the late 18th century. All the fishermen and the garrison of the island were taken to the mainland, to Halifax, where they were detained for two years. During this time, English fishermen managed to settle in the houses of the French, until in 1796 a French squadron attacked the islands, sinking and burning 80 English ships.
Today Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are all that the French have left from New France, and 3819 km. separate the islands from french city Brest is the closest point in France to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
At the beginning of the XX century. the archipelago was in crisis, unable to cope with the competition in the fishing industry from the United States. But when the United States was hit by the Great Depression of 1929, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon experienced an economic boom, and the United States itself helped them in this. On January 17, 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution came into force, completely banning the sale of alcoholic beverages. By virtue of its geographic location Saint Pierre and Miquelon became a major transit point for alcohol smuggling from Canada to the United States. For the convenience of smugglers, a French law banning the sale of imported liquor was even canceled. Gangster syndicates settled on the islands, and the famous bootleggers Al Capone (1899-1947) and Bill McCoy (1877-1948) personally ran everything here. The economy of the islands completely switched to serving gangsters: fishing boats transported alcohol, fish processing plants turned into warehouses and factories for bottling whiskey and gin. This continued until 1933, when Prohibition in the United States was repealed, and the economy of the islands plunged into depression again. There is a Prohibition Museum on Saint-Pierre Island.
During the Second World War 1939-1945. the French authorities of the islands sided with the pro-Nazi Vichy regime of southern France. The Canadians were convinced that the islands' radio stations were helping German submarines navigate off the coast of North America. The Canadians themselves did not dare to land on the islands, and the French did it for them. In 1941, following the order of General de Gaulle (1890-1970), Admiral Emile Muselier (1882-1965) organized the liberation of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon without the consent of the Canadian and American authorities. Thus, the archipelago became one of the first French territories to join the Free French. The downside of this venture was a sharp cooling in relations between de Gaulle and US President Franklin Roosevelt (1882-1945).
At present, France continues to be responsible for the security of the islands, for which it keeps a patrol boat "Fulmar" in the waters of the archipelago and has built two police stations - one each at Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
Miquelon is the largest island, but 90% of the population lives on Saint-Pierre, which is ten times smaller, but still remains the administrative and economic center of the territory. The economy is based on tourism, fishing and processing of fish (mainly cod) and crab. The Great Newfoundland Bank, within which Saint Pierre and Miquelon lie, is one of the richest fishing areas on the planet.
general information
Location: Archipelago south of Newfoundland Island in Cabot Strait.The composition of the archipelago: the large islands - Saint Pierre, Miquelon and Langlade (uninhabited); small uninhabited islands - Gran-Colombier, Petit-Colombier, Ile aux Marins, Ile aux Colombier and Ile aux Vanker.
Official name: Overseas community of France Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (local official name - Department of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon).
Form of government: a prefect appointed by the French government; and an elected Territorial Council of local government.
Administrative division: two communes (municipalities) - Saint-Pierre and Miquelon-Langlade.
Administrative center: Saint-Pierre city (Saint-Pierre island) - 5 888 people. (2011).
Languages: French - official, English.
Ethnic composition: immigrants from France (Basques, Bretons, Normans, inhabitants of Sentonge) and French Canadians.
Religions: Catholicism - 99%, others - 1%.
Monetary units: euro, Canadian dollar.
Settlements: Saint-Pierre, Miquelon - 698 people. (2009).
Most important port: Saint Pierre.
Largest rivers: Belle Riviere, Renard.
Neighboring territories: Newfoundland island (distance - 20 km).
Numbers
Inhabited island area: 242 km 2 (Miquelon Island - 216 km 2, Saint-Pierre Island - 26 km 2).Population: 5,831 (2012).
Average population density: 24 people / km 2.
Urban population: 91% (2012).
Highest point: De la Gran Montani hill (Miquelon island, 240 m).
Total coastline: about 120 km.
Climate and weather
Relatively cold and humid oceanic climate.Average January temperature: + 4 ° C.
Average temperature in July: + 14 ° C.
Average annual rainfall: 1500 mm.
■ Lagoon Gran Barashua (nesting place for seabirds).
■ Isle aux Marins: Church of Notre-Dame-des-Marins (1874), Archipelago Museum, battery of the old fort (XIX century), Hesekel House (fishing museum).
■ Miquelon island: Miquelon Museum, Far du Cap Blanc lighthouse, Le Cap peninsula (whale migration site).
Curious facts
■ Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are represented in the French Parliament by one senator and one member of the National Assembly.■ Recent studies on the offshore islands have shown that this is a very promising oil and gas region.
■ Basques and Bretons were the first to migrate to the islands from France in the 16th century.
■ Every spring, whales migrating to Greenland are visible from the shores of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and this spectacle attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world.
■ The archipelago is very high level emigration, especially among young people who leave the islands to study on the mainland and never return to their homeland. Even during the relatively prosperous economies of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the population of the islands was constrained by geographic remoteness, a harsh climate and unacceptable soil.
■ The islands have been issuing their own postage stamps since 1885.
Geographical position
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is an overseas community that is part of France. It is located on small islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 20 km south of the Canadian island of Newfoundland in the Cabot Strait. These islands are the only territory left by France from the former colony of New France.
Islands area is 242 km².
The largest island is Miquelon (216 km²), and the bulk of the population lives on the second largest island, Saint Pierre. Saint Pierre and Miquelon occupies an archipelago of 8 islands.
It consists of 3 relatively large islands - Saint Pierre, Miquelon and Langlade, as well as 5 small islands - Gran Colombier, Petit Colombier, Ile aux Marins (Ile aux Cheyenne) and others.
Total length the coastline is about 120 km.
The capital is the city of Saint-Pierre, which is located on the island of the same name.
The islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are composed of ancient rocks, there are deposits of the Ice Age.
The shores of the islands are heavily indented, precipitous and inaccessible. The interior regions of the islands are hilly. The highest point of the country has a height of 240 meters, it is located on the island of Miquelon. The islands have a large number of streams and small rivers.
How to get there
You can fly to the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by Air Saint-Pierre aircraft from Saint-John airport, located on Novaya Zemlya, from Sydney or Halifax. There is a direct flight from Paris via Montreal by Air Franc. There are also regular flights between the islands. The islands are connected with Novaya Zemlya by regular ferry service.
Visa
Citizens of Russia and the CIS must apply for a visa to enter the islands.
The islands belong to the overseas possessions of France, therefore, you need to contact the consular section of the French embassy:
You can import and export means of payment without restrictions. An amount exceeding 7,000 euros must be entered in the declaration. Foreign currency converted into euros can be re-converted into foreign currency not in full, but only up to the equivalent of 500 euros.
A small amount of alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, tea, perfume, as well as some food and other goods can be brought into the country duty-free. In this case, labeling of the shelf life of food products is required.
It is forbidden to import into the country and export from it narcotic and psychotropic substances, items of historical value, weapons and ammunition, as well as animals and plants that are included in the list of endangered species.
To import medicines, you need to have a prescription for them issued by a doctor or lawyer. Plants, animals and plant products must be presented to quarantine officials. Animals must have a vaccination certificate as well as a medical certificate in French. This certificate must be issued no earlier than five days before departure.
Climate
The islands have a polar climate. In winter, the average temperature is minus three degrees, but sometimes it reaches minus forty degrees, and a lot of snow falls. It is cool here in summer, the average temperature is plus sixteen degrees. Wet air masses from the ocean on collision lead to frequent fogs - most foggy days in the beginning and middle of summer. In spring and autumn, the weather is usually clear and windy.
Population
Population according to census 1999 was 5618 inhabitants, and according to the 2009 census 5478 inhabitants. For 2012, it was estimated at about 5400 people. About 90% of the inhabitants of the entire archipelago live here. The vast majority live in the city of Saint-Pierre, which is also the capital of the overseas community.
Nature
On the islands due to the peculiarities of the climate and human activity, flora and fauna are not very diverse.
Coniferous and deciduous forests on the islands grow mainly on flat areas and hillsides, which are more or less protected from the wind. The main woody plants of the forests are spruce, dwarf spruce and birch. At this time, the area occupied by forests has been greatly reduced due to their uncontrolled felling and harvesting of wood for firewood. Grasses are represented on the islands by species characteristic of swampy meadows and peat bogs and resemble the vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra.
Animal world The islands are represented by marine mammals and birds, mainly marine ones. On Miquelon, Saint-Pierre and adjacent islands and rocks there are quite large colonies of cormorants, gulls and penguins, as well as seal rookeries.
Tourism
Tourism industry of the national economy of the islands not developed and mainly because the islands are not interesting in terms of the presence of cultural and historical monuments... Climatic and natural conditions do not allow the development of resort activities in the same way. The islands of the archipelago are occasionally visited by tourists and guests, but this fact does not carry a mass character.
You can get to the islands by air (there are small airfields on both islands) or by sea transport, this is how communication is maintained between the islands themselves.
Hotels, hotels, prices
Hotels on the islands of different categories, but the quality of service in any of them is not inferior to the European one. They have all the conditions for a good rest.
- the only real "overseas territory of France". Why is that? Yes, because in all other overseas territories of France - in Guiana, the Caribbean, Reunion, New Caledonia, Tahiti and others - from time immemorial there has been an indigenous population that has nothing in common with the French.
And at any moment these "natives" can ask the colonialists to free their lands. On the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the situation is fundamentally different. The natives do not live there and have never lived there. The majority of the local population is made up of the French, who are unlikely to want to follow the bad example of today's Americans from the United States and secede from their mother country. The economy of the islands, despite constant financial infusions from the French treasury, has a certain flexibility, and if many "natives" flee from the islands, it is not at all because life has become worse. Quite the contrary, new, broader horizons are opening up, in particular, in the field of tourism development. Although, if you take a closer look into the future, it is possible that the time is not far off when a real oil boom will begin on the land of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. However, let's start in order.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon are two islands that are hidden "under the belly" near the huge Canadian island of Newfoundland by local standards, just at the exit of the Cabot Strait, through which there is an endless stream sea \u200b\u200bships from all over the world to Montreal and beyond - to Big Lakes along the St. Lawrence River. However, the SP&M Islands are not known at all as a "transshipment base" from the Old World to New Worldas well as one of the largest importers of North Atlantic cod. This formed the basis of the local island budget until recently, when fishing in this region was substantially limited by international agreements. However, although Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are different islands, the “overseas department” itself includes six more islands. However, these smaller islands are uninhabited and therefore are not included in economic statistics. The area of \u200b\u200bthe entire French territory off the coast of Canada is only 240 km2. sq. The main part of the local population lives on the island of Saint-Pierre - 6300 people, 9 times less live on Miquelon. This is due to the fact that the capital of the department is located on Saint-Pierre, where almost the entire population is concentrated. In addition, Miquelon has a highly mountainous terrain and does not have good enough bays for basing ships. True, steep rocky hills can be called mountains only conditionally, since the highest point above Miquelon rises to a height of only 245 meters. But on it there are a lot of large and small streams that serve as a source of clean and ecologically clean drinking water, and therefore in the summer, almost half of the population of Saint-Pierre moves here to their summer cottages for recreation and gardening.
The climate on the islands is not entirely comfortable, it is cool in summer (that is, it is almost never hot), and in winter, even though the warm Gulf Stream does not allow truly northern frosts to roam, so much snow falls that the islands literally turn into one big snowdrift. True, there were cases when there were also forty-degree frosts on the islands, but these were exceptions, usually frosts do not exceed 10 degrees, and most often they stay about 3 degrees. In summer, the sun is rare due to the almost constant cloud cover, but the nature of the islands at this time of the year, when the snow melts, is magnificent. In the southern part of Miquelon (the so-called Langlade), in the valleys between the hills, spruce and birch forests grow. In the northern part of the island there are peat bogs - the forests here have long been cut down for firewood, and in order to plant the swamps with new trees, there are not enough funds, but this is still local residents and it is not necessary - cheap fuel of much better quality comes from Canada and without all these hassles. On Saint-Pierre, by the way, there are no forests for a long time either, but there are very good airport, which occupies a good half of the island. And one more thing: due to the key position of the islands on the path of bird migration, the flying fauna here is very rich for most of the year. Ornithologists have counted more than 300 bird species in Miquelon alone. There are much fewer of them on Saint-Pierre, but given the treeless texture of the island, this is not at all surprising.
Due to the fact that the islands of Saint-Père and Miquelon lie on important trade routes, their history is very rich. Their semi-official discovery took place in 1520 by the Portuguese João Fagüendez, who gave them the name "Eleven thousand virgins", but for some reason did not put them on the map (or maybe this map was lost in the Portuguese archives). After him, other Portuguese landed on the islands - the Cortereal brothers, they named them the Green Islands, but after them there were no maps left either, just a mention in the ship's log. But in 1536 a real explorer came here - the Frenchman Jacques Cartier. He put islands on french map, compiled their description, and annexed them to France. Since the Indians were not found on the islands, the French settlers who landed 70 years after the discovery of Cartier began to master them without difficulty. Luscious forests at that time were suitable as fuel, albeit cloudy, but the rather warm weather in summer allowed for gardening and raising domestic animals, so that the settlers were also provided with food. The rest they received from Europe and then from America, exchanging the necessary goods for the magnificent Newfoundland cod, which literally swarmed in these waters. It was because of the good fishing that Breton and Basque fishermen who knew a lot about this business began to arrive on the islands. Also, many merchants settled on the island, who were engaged in the resale of the caught fish both to America and Europe. For 400 years, the fishermen of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon lived comfortably, despite the private occupation of the islands by the British. However, the British never managed to keep the islands for themselves for a long time, partly because the British fishermen could not settle down on these islands. The golden age in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon came when the United States declared "Prohibition" (1919). Alcohol made in Canada was poured into the United States through french islands a very powerful river, and even a moment came when fishing declined, but the incomes of the inhabitants of the islands, on the contrary, increased with a progressive rapidity. When the "dry law" in the United States was canceled, the former fishermen again had to take up the nets.
After a new one broke out in Europe world War and Hitler occupied the metropolis, many islanders could not decide on whose side they were - for the capitulated legal government, or for the immigrant government of the rebel De Gaulle. And only when the ships of the Free French entered the Bay of Saint-Pierre, the inhabitants of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon realized that they had entered into an anti-Hitler coalition with all the consequences. A conscription was made for youth liable for military service and very soon 6,000 new French soldiers went to London in order to join the army that De Gaulle was collecting to fight Hitler together with the British.
The war passed, then the post-war years, which brought new dividends to the islanders in the form of an expansion of fisheries, but it soon turned out that the fish resources of the Newfoundland Bank are not at all inexhaustible, as it seemed before. The moment has come when there are so few fish left in the North Atlantic that, through the efforts of both continents adjoining this gigantic region, it was necessary to agree on a reduction in fishing almost completely. The fishermen of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon were left out of business in one fell swoop and began to massively immigrate to Canada and France. Their place, however, was taken by completely different people, who perfectly saw that the future of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon fits perfectly into the New Golden Age associated with the rapid development of world tourism. If even before this the metropolis invested in its american islands annually up to $ 60 million a year, then with the start of programs aimed at developing tourism, this assistance has increased significantly. The authorities of the French overseas department have counted all their natural and historical assets and began to actively expand the island tourist routes... In parallel with this, the rapid development of the cultivation of garden crops and the breeding of domestic animals began, some resourceful inhabitants of the islands even founded fur farms on which minks and foxes are grown. More than $ 100 million has been invested in the construction of the new airport, and although it is still mainly used for transportation purposes, it is expected to be fully loaded by the end of the next decade, thanks to tourists from Europe, America, China, Japan and Russia. Already today, the tourist flow is estimated at about 15 thousand people annually, and this is not so little as it might seem at first glance.
If you are planning to visit the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon in order to obtain information about how the "American French" feel on this remote piece of land, then you will have something to look at. A hundred years ago, when the world did not know radio, television, or cinema, and even gramophones were then a rarity, in such a "bear's corner" one could get bored in the most natural way. This was especially true in winter, when fishing was limited to bad weather at sea, and this weather lasted most of the season. Tourism as such did not exist in those days, but many travelers, by the will of fate brought to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, did not waste time. They were busy exploring the sights of the islands, fortunately, and then there was something to see. In fact, all historical sights are concentrated on the well-populated Saint-Pierre, and on the island of Miquelon, mainly natural attractions are concentrated. Every tourist arriving by ferry from Newfoundland begins exploring the archipelago from the streets of Saint-Pierre, which is a rather unique combination of the Canadian Atlantic coastline with rural France, in particular Normandy and Brittany. The main architectural landmark of the city is the Cathedral, which was built in 1807. In fact, the very first church on this site was built back in 1690, but it burned down during the next British invasion. A cathedral was built in place of a church, but it also burned down three years before the construction of the one that can be seen today began. In the harbor of Saint-Pierre it is worth admiring the old lighthouse and a small battery of naval guns that have stood on the embankment for more than three centuries. At first, these guns figured as protection from the British, then from the Russians (during the Crimean War, several Russian warships, torn off from their bases in Russia, but receiving everything they needed in the United States, raided British and French possessions), and later - as a historical attractions. The old factory, where the fish caught by the fishermen was salted, as well as the pier, has been preserved in surprisingly good condition. It is also interesting to look outside and inside at the government buildings of the overseas French territory, the House of Justice and the post office, which is already 100 years old, and the museum of which has a magnificent collection of local and other postage stamps.
On Miquelon, natural attractions are mainly interesting, although there are also plenty of architectural and historical ones, for example, a unique lighthouse, an old Catholic church and a very picturesque cemetery. However, immediately after visiting these places, it is imperative to climb Mount Sar and inspect the area from a bird's eye view. True, this high hill is not a mountain, since it is the most high point throughout the archipelago (as already indicated - 240 meters), then the views from its top are truly breathtaking. Accompanied by a guide, you can walk through the birch forests preserved in Miquelon, on the slopes of the hills turning into spruce, and in the lowlands - into a swamp, more reminiscent of the Siberian tundra. On the small islands of the archipelago, many birds can be observed.
However, for many islanders, all hopes for the future are not associated with tourism at all, although if this matter is well put, it will fully provide for the inhabitants of the archipelago and still remain for descendants. Not so long ago, oil was found offshore Newfoundland. The area around the islands was covered with exploration drilling rigs. This was followed by the signing of French-Canadian agreements for joint production. If the forecasts come true, then the French overseas territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon will receive an excellent economic replacement for the fish destroyed in the surrounding ocean over several centuries.
And especially for the readers of my blog unique photographs of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon(French Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon) 
