Chic-Choc Mountains

Chic-Choc Mountains
Highest point
Peak Mont Jacques-Cartier
Elevation 1,268 m (4,160 ft)
Coordinates 48°59′26″N 65°56′33″W / 48.99056°N 65.94250°W
Dimensions
Length 95 km (59 mi) East-West
Width 10 km (6.2 mi)
Geography

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Country Canada
State/Province Quebec
Range coordinates 48°55′N 66°00′W / 48.92°N 66°WCoordinates: 48°55′N 66°00′W / 48.92°N 66°W
Parent range Notre Dame Mountains

The Chic-Choc Mountains, also spelled Shick Shocks, is a mountain range in the central region of the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, Canada. It is a part of the Notre Dame Mountains, which is a continuation of the Appalachian Mountains.[1]

History

The name Chic-Chocs comes from the Mi'kmaq word sigsôg, meaning "crags" or "rocky mountains." It has undergone many different spellings over time, including Chikchâks (1836), Shick-shock (1857), and Chick-Saws (1863).[1]

Geography

The Chic-Chocs run parallel to the St. Lawrence River and are located some 20 to 40 kilometers inland. They are a narrow band of mountains approximately 95 kilometres (59 mi) long and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) wide.[1] The Chic-Chocs are heavily eroded, with rounded, flattened tops and steep sides. Over 25 mountains in the range have peaks higher than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft); the highest is Mont Jacques-Cartier at 1,268 metres (4,160 ft). Caribou can be found in the plateaus of this region.

Tourism

Although visited by just a few tourists, Chic-Choc Mountains became much more popular in the late 1990s as backcountry skiing gained popularity in Eastern Canada.

A network of trails, including the International Appalachian Trail, passes through these mountains. Quebec's Parc national de la Gaspésie protects most of the mountain range.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Monts Chic-Chocs". Banque de noms de lieux du Québec (in French). Commission de Toponymie. Retrieved 1 Feb 2011.

External links