Quebec

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Quebec}}
{{see also|List of rivers of Quebec|List of lakes of Quebec}}[[File:Map_of_Quebec.png|thumb|Map of Quebec]]
Located in the [[Eastern Canada|eastern part]] of Canada, Quebec occupies a territory nearly three times the size of [[France]] or [[Texas]]. Most of Quebec is very sparsely populated.<ref>{{cite web|author=Institut de la statistique du Québec |title=Comparaison entre la superficie du Québec et celle de divers pays |trans-title=Comparison between the area of Quebec and various countries|url=http://www.stat.gouv.qc.ca/jeunesse/territoire/compa_superf_pays.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808030517/http://www.stat.gouv.qc.ca/jeunesse/territoire/compa_superf_pays.htm|archivedate=August 8, 2011|accessdate=July 4, 2011|publisher=Government of Quebec|language=fr}}</ref> The most populous [[Physical geography|physiographic]] region is the [[Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Lowlands]]. The combination of rich soils and the lowlands' relatively warm climate makes this valley the most prolific agricultural area of Quebec. The rural part of the landscape is divided into narrow rectangular tracts of land that extend from the river and date back to the seigneurial system.

Quebec's [[topography]] is very different from one region to another due to the varying composition of the ground, the climate, and the proximity to water. More than 95% of Quebec's territory, including the [[Labrador Peninsula]], lies within the [[Canadian Shield]].<ref name="naturalhistory2">{{cite web|title=Natural History of Quebec|url=http://redpath-museum.mcgill.ca/Qbp/Natural%20History/nat_hist.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706185133/http://redpath-museum.mcgill.ca/Qbp/Natural%20History/nat_hist.html|archivedate=July 6, 2011|accessdate=June 22, 2011|work=A description of the natural history of the province|publisher=McGill University}}</ref> It is generally a quite flat and exposed mountainous terrain interspersed with higher points such as the [[Laurentian Mountains]] in southern Quebec, the [[Otish Mountains]] in central Quebec and the [[Torngat Mountains]] near [[Ungava Bay]]. While low and medium altitude peaks extend from western Quebec to the far north, high altitudes mountains emerge in the [[Capitale-Nationale]] region to the extreme east. Quebec's highest point at {{convert|1652|m}} is Mont d'Iberville, known in English as [[Mount Caubvick]].<ref>{{cite web|date=November 1, 2004|title=Mont D'Iberville, Québec/Newfoundland|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=5968|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807070459/http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=5968|archivedate=August 7, 2011|publisher=PeakBagger}}</ref> In the Labrador Peninsula portion of the Shield, the far northern region of [[Nunavik]] includes the Ungava Peninsula and consists of flat Arctic [[tundra]] inhabited mostly by the Inuit. Further south is the [[Eastern Canadian Shield taiga]] ecoregion and the [[Central Canadian Shield forests]]. The [[Chaudière-Appalaches|Appalachian]] region has a narrow strip of ancient mountains along the southeastern border of Quebec.

[[File:Chutes_à_Michel.jpg|left|thumb|Michel's falls on [[Ashuapmushuan River]] in [[Saint-Félicien, Québec|Saint-Félicien]], [[Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean]]]]
Quebec has one of the world's largest reserves of [[fresh water]],{{sfn|Ministry of Environment of Quebec|2002|p=5}} occupying 12% of its surface{{sfn|Babin|1986|p=39}} and representing 3% of the world's [[Renewable freshwater resources|renewable fresh water]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Boyer |first=Marcel|date=January 12, 2008|title=11 idées pour changer le Québec|language=fr|newspaper=Le Journal de Montréal|url=http://www.iedm.org/main/show_editorials_fr.php?editorials_id=604|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325020028/http://www.iedm.org/fr/node/2904|archivedate=March 25, 2012}}</ref> More than half a million lakes and 4,500 rivers{{sfn|Ministry of Environment of Quebec|2002|p=5}} empty into the [[Atlantic Ocean]], through the [[Gulf of Saint Lawrence]] and the [[Arctic Ocean]], by [[James Bay|James]], [[Hudson Bay|Hudson]], and Ungava bays. The largest inland body of water is the [[Caniapiscau Reservoir]]; [[Lake Mistassini]] is the largest natural lake.<ref name="CTQ-resC2">{{cite web|author=Commission de toponymie du Québec|title=Réservoir de Caniapiscau|url=http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=150506|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920115448/http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=150506|archivedate=September 20, 2011|accessdate=July 10, 2010|publisher=Government of Quebec|language=fr}}</ref> The [[Saint Lawrence River]] has some of the world's largest sustaining inland Atlantic ports. Since 1959, the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]] has provided a navigable link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.

The [[public lands]] of Quebec cover approximately 92% of its territory, including almost all of the bodies of water. [[Protected areas of Quebec|Protected areas]] can be classified into about twenty different legal designations (ex. exceptional forest ecosystem, protected marine environment, [[National Parks of Quebec|national park]], [[Biodiversity reserves of Quebec|biodiversity reserve]], wildlife reserve, [[zone d'exploitation contrôlée]] (ZEC), etc.).<ref name="definition2">{{cite web|title=Protected areas in Quebec|url=http://www.mddefp.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires_protegees/aires_quebec.htm#def|accessdate=December 7, 2013|publisher=Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks}}</ref> More than 2,500 sites in Quebec today are protected areas.<ref>{{cite web|year=2009|title=Protected areas in Quebec|url=http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires_protegees/articles/090329/synthese.pdf|accessdate=March 29, 2009|publisher=Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks}}</ref> As of 2013, protected areas comprise 9.14% of Quebec's territory.<ref name="register2">{{cite web|title=Register of protected areas|url=http://www.mddefp.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires_protegees/registre/index.htm#historic|accessdate=December 7, 2013|publisher=Ministry of Development Sustainable, Environment, Wildlife and Parks}}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:Quebec_Köppen.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] of Quebec]]
In general, the climate of Quebec is cold and humid, with variations determined by latitude, maritime and elevation influences.<ref name="climat2">{{cite web|title=Climat au Québec|url=http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/climat/normales/climat-qc.htm|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212211615/http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/climat/normales/climat-qc.htm|archivedate=December 12, 2019|accessdate=December 12, 2019|publisher=Government of Quebec|language=fr}}</ref> Because of the influence of both storm systems from the core of North America and the Atlantic Ocean, precipitation is abundant throughout the year, with most areas receiving more than {{convert|1000|mm|abbr=on}} of precipitation, including over {{convert|300|cm|abbr=on}} of snow in many areas.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Climat-Québec|title=Climate Normals, tabular, year|url=http://www.climat-quebec.qc.ca/home.php?id=norm_entab&mpn=stati_clim&slt_nomStations=34&slt_idStations=7016294&slt_variable=10&slt_periode=2&sub=Afficher|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827223813/http://www.climat-quebec.qc.ca/home.php?id=norm_entab&mpn=stati_clim&slt_nomStations=34&slt_idStations=7016294&slt_variable=10&slt_periode=2&sub=Afficher|archivedate=August 27, 2011|accessdate=July 13, 2011}}</ref> During the summer, severe weather patterns (such as [[tornado]]es and severe [[thunderstorm]]s) occur occasionally.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Climat-Québec|title=Tornadoes|url=http://www.climat-quebec.qc.ca/home.php?id=p23&mpn=ev_mto_sig|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827224256/http://www.climat-quebec.qc.ca/home.php?id=p23&mpn=ev_mto_sig|archivedate=August 27, 2011|accessdate=July 13, 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Baie-Saint-Paul.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Baie-Saint-Paul]] during winter]]
Quebec is divided into four climatic zones: arctic, subarctic, humid continental and East maritime. From south to north, average temperatures range in summer between {{convert|25|and|5|C}} and, in winter, between {{convert|-10|and|-25|C}}.<ref>{{cite web|website=Quebec Portal|date=October 12, 2006|title=Zones climatiques du Québec|url=http://www.gouv.qc.ca/portail/quebec/pgs/commun/portrait/geographie/climat/zonesclimatiques/?lang=fr|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806094342/http://www.gouv.qc.ca/portail/quebec/pgs/commun/portrait/geographie/climat/zonesclimatiques/?lang=fr|archivedate=August 6, 2011|accessdate=January 23, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Immigration Québec|title=Moyenne mensuelle des températures de Québec (ville) et Montréal|url=http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/avantages/territoire/climat/moyenne-temperatures.html|url-status=live|archiveurl=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140325110816/http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/avantages/territoire/climat/moyenne-temperatures.html|archivedate=March 25, 2014|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> In periods of intense heat and cold, temperatures can reach {{convert|35|C}} in the summer<ref name="climatetabular2">{{cite web|publisher=Climat-Québec|date=August 30, 2010|title=Climate Normals, Tabular|url=http://www.climat-quebec.qc.ca/home.php?id=norm_entab&mpn=stati_clim&slt_nomStations=34&slt_idStations=7016294&slt_variable=0&slt_periode=0&sub=Afficher|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827223341/http://www.climat-quebec.qc.ca/home.php?id=norm_entab&mpn=stati_clim&slt_nomStations=34&slt_idStations=7016294&slt_variable=0&slt_periode=0&sub=Afficher|archivedate=August 27, 2011|accessdate=July 12, 2011}}</ref> and {{convert|-40|C}} during the Quebec winter,<ref name="climatetabular2" /> Most of central Quebec, ranging from 51 to 58 degrees North has a [[subarctic climate]] (Köppen ''Dfc'').<ref name="climat2" /> Winters are long, very cold, and snowy, and among the coldest in eastern Canada, while summers are warm but very short due to the higher latitude and the greater influence of Arctic air masses. Precipitation is also somewhat less than farther south, except at some of the higher elevations. The northern regions of Quebec have an [[Climate of the Arctic|arctic climate]] (Köppen ''ET''), with very cold winters and short, much cooler summers.<ref name="climat2" /> The primary influences in this region are the Arctic Ocean currents (such as the [[Labrador Current]]) and continental air masses from the High [[Arctic]].

The all-time record high temperature was {{convert|40.0|C}} and the all-time record low was {{convert|-51.0|C}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Normales climatiques du Québec 1981-2010|url=http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/climat/normales/index.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212211601/http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/climat/normales/index.asp|archivedate=December 12, 2019|accessdate=December 12, 2019|publisher=Government of Quebec|language=fr}}</ref> The all-time record of the greatest precipitation in winter was established in winter 2007–2008, with more than five metres<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Environment Canada|date=December 29, 2008|title=Canada's Top Ten Weather Stories for 2008|url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/doc/smc-msc/2008/s3_eng.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807170704/http://www.ec.gc.ca/doc/smc-msc/2008/s3_eng.html|archivedate=August 7, 2011}}</ref> of snow in the area of Quebec City.<ref>{{cite web|title=Records de neige|url=http://ici.radio-canada.ca/jeunesse/explorateur/histoire/index.asp?no_contenu=7253|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140418223711/http://ici.radio-canada.ca/jeunesse/explorateur/histoire/index.asp?no_contenu=7253|archivedate=April 18, 2014|accessdate=January 23, 2010|publisher=CBC }}</ref> March 1971, however, saw the "[[Eastern Canadian Blizzard of March 1971|Century's Snowstorm]]" with more than {{convert|40|cm|abbr=on}} in Montreal to {{convert|80|cm|abbr=on}} in [[RCAF Station Mont Apica|Mont Apica]] of snow within 24 hours in many regions of southern Quebec. The winter of 2010 was the warmest and driest recorded in more than 60 years.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 19, 2010|title=Climat : L'hiver le plus chaud de l'histoire du pays|url=http://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/National/2010/03/19/001-hiver-le-plus-chaud.shtml?ref=rss|publisher=CBC|language=fr}}</ref>

===Flora and fauna===
[[File:Ecoregions_quebec_map.svg|thumb|Different forest areas of Quebec. {{legend|#93ACA7|1. Middle Arctic Tundra}}
{{legend|#536C67|2. Low Arctic Tundra}}
{{legend|#00D4AA|3. Torngat Mountain Tundra}}
{{legend|#004455|4. Eastern Canadian Shield Taiga}}
{{legend|#89A02C|5. Southern Hudson Bay Taiga}}
{{legend|#2D5016|6. Central Canadian Shield Forests}}
{{legend|#504416|7. Eastern Canadian Forests}}
{{legend|#55FF99|8. Eastern Forest/Boreal Transition}}
{{legend|#C8AB37|9. Eastern Great Lakes Lowland Forests}}
{{legend|#7137C8|10. New England/Acadian Forests}}
{{legend|#99FF55|11. Gulf of St. Lawrence Lowland Forests}}]]
Given the geology of the province and its different climates, there are a number of large areas of vegetation in Quebec. These areas, listed in order from the northernmost to the southernmost are: the [[tundra]], the [[taiga]], the [[Boreal forest of Canada|Canadian boreal forest]] (coniferous), [[Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest|mixed forest]] and [[deciduous]] forest.<ref name="naturalhistory2" /> On the edge of Ungava Bay and Hudson Strait is the tundra, whose flora is limited to [[lichen]] with less than 50 growing days per year. Further south, the climate is conducive to the growth of the [[Boreal forest of Canada|Canadian boreal forest]], bounded on the north by the taiga. Not as arid as the tundra, the taiga is associated with the subarctic regions of the Canadian Shield<ref name="types veg2">{{cite web|title=Types de végétations du Québec|url=http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/forets/connaissances/connaissances-inventaire-zones.jsp|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827041242/http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/forets/connaissances/connaissances-inventaire-zones.jsp|archivedate=August 27, 2011|accessdate=June 22, 2011|publisher=Government of Quebec|language=fr}}</ref> and is characterized by a greater number of both plant (600) and animal (206) species. The taiga covers about 20% of the total area of Quebec.<ref name="naturalhistory2" /> The Canadian boreal forest is the northernmost and most abundant of the three forest areas in Quebec that straddle the Canadian Shield and the upper lowlands of the province. Given a warmer climate, the diversity of organisms is also higher: there are about 850 plant species and 280 vertebrate species. The [[mixed forest]] is a transition zone between the Canadian boreal forest and [[deciduous forest]]. This area contains a diversity of plant (1000) and [[vertebrate]]s (350) species, despite relatively cool temperatures. The ecozone mixed forest is characteristic of the [[Laurentides|Laurentians]], the [[Chaudière-Appalaches|Appalachians]] and the eastern lowland forests.<ref name="types veg2" /> The third most northern forest area is characterized by [[deciduous forest]]s. Because of its climate, this area has the greatest diversity of species, including more than 1600 [[vascular plants]] and 440 vertebrates.

The total forest area of Quebec is estimated at {{convert|750300|sqkm|abbr=on}}.<ref name="domaine_forestier2">{{cite web|publisher=Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune|title=Domaine forestier|url=http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/forets/quebec/quebec-milieu.jsp|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406114232/http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/forets/quebec/quebec-milieu.jsp|archivedate=April 6, 2012|accessdate=August 19, 2007|language=fr}}</ref> From the [[Abitibi-Témiscamingue]] to the [[Côte-Nord|North Shore]], the forest is composed primarily of conifers such as the ''[[Abies balsamea]]'', the [[jack pine]], the [[Picea glauca|white spruce]], the [[Picea mariana|black spruce]] and the [[Larix laricina|tamarack]]. The deciduous forest of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Lowlands is mostly composed of deciduous species such as the [[Acer saccharum|sugar maple]], the [[Acer rubrum|red maple]], the [[Fraxinus americana|white ash]], the [[Fagus grandifolia|American beech]], the [[Juglans cinerea|butternut (white walnut)]], the [[Ulmus americana|American elm]], the [[Tilia americana|basswood]], the [[Carya cordiformis|bitternut hickory]] and the [[Quercus rubra|northern red oak]] as well as some conifers such as the [[eastern white pine]] and the [[Thuja occidentalis|northern whitecedar]]. The distribution areas of the [[Betula papyrifera|paper birch]], the [[Populus tremuloides|trembling aspen]] and the [[Sorbus|mountain ash]] cover more than half of Quebec's territory.<ref>{{cite web|title=L'Arboretum du Québec|url=http://www.arboquebecium.com/index.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707155005/http://www.arboquebecium.com/index.html|archivedate=July 7, 2011|accessdate=June 25, 2011|website=Arboquebecium.com|language=fr}}</ref>

Biodiversity of the estuary and gulf of Saint Lawrence River<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Environnement Canada|title=La biodiversité du Saint-Laurent|url=http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/faune/biodiv/fr/mammiferes/marins.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807111032/http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/faune/biodiv/fr/mammiferes/marins.html|archivedate=August 7, 2011|accessdate=July 12, 2011|language=fr}}</ref> includes aquatic mammal wildlife, such as the [[blue whale]], the [[Beluga (whale)|beluga]], the [[minke whale]] and the [[harp seal]] (earless seal). The Nordic marine animals include the [[walrus]] and the [[narwhal]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune|title=Espèces fauniques du Nunavik|url=http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/faune/especes/nunavik/index.jsp|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706201853/http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/faune/especes/nunavik/index.jsp|archivedate=July 6, 2011|accessdate=July 12, 2011|language=fr}}</ref> Inland waters are populated by small to large freshwater fish, such as the [[largemouth bass]], the [[American pickerel]], the [[walleye]], the ''[[Acipenser oxyrinchus]]'', the [[muskellunge]], the [[Atlantic cod]], the [[Arctic char]], the [[brook trout]], the ''[[Microgadus tomcod]]'' (tomcod), the [[Atlantic salmon]], and the [[rainbow trout]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune|title=Poissons du Québec|url=http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/faune/peche/poissons/index.jsp|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706201909/http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/faune/peche/poissons/index.jsp|archivedate=July 6, 2011|accessdate=July 12, 2011|language=fr}}</ref>

Among the birds commonly seen in the southern part of Quebec are the [[American robin]], the [[house sparrow]], the [[red-winged blackbird]], the [[mallard]], the [[common grackle]], the [[blue jay]], the [[American crow]], the [[black-capped chickadee]], some [[New World warbler|warblers]] and [[swallow]]s, the [[European starling|starling]] and the [[rock pigeon]].{{sfn |Brûlotte|2009}} Avian fauna includes birds of prey like the [[golden eagle]], the [[peregrine falcon]], the [[snowy owl]] and the [[bald eagle]]. Sea and semi-aquatic birds seen in Quebec are mostly the [[Canada goose]], the [[double-crested cormorant]], the [[northern gannet]], the [[European herring gull]], the [[great blue heron]], the [[sandhill crane]], the [[Atlantic puffin]] and the [[common loon]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Lepage, Denis|title=List of Quebec birds|url=http://www.oiseauxqc.org/listeannotee.jsp|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716032400/http://www.oiseauxqc.org/listeannotee.jsp|archivedate=July 16, 2011|accessdate=June 24, 2011|website=Les Oiseaux du Québec|language=fr}}</ref>

The large land wildlife includes the [[white-tailed deer]], the [[moose]], the [[muskox]], the [[Reindeer|caribou (reindeer)]], the [[American black bear]] and the [[polar bear]]. The medium-sized land wildlife includes the [[cougar]], the [[coyote]], the [[eastern wolf]], the [[bobcat]], the [[Arctic fox]], the fox, etc. The small animals seen most commonly include the [[eastern grey squirrel]], the [[snowshoe hare]], the [[groundhog]], the [[skunk]], the [[raccoon]], the [[chipmunk]] and the [[North American beaver|Canadian beaver]].