Cité de l'Or facts for kids
Bourlamaque mining village
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| Established | 1995 |
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| Location | Val-d'Or, Abitibi region of Quebec, Canada |
| Type | Gold mining |
The Cité de l'Or (which means "The City of Gold") is a cool place to visit in Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada. It's in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. Since 1995, this attraction has shown people what gold mining was really like.
Visitors can explore the underground Lamaque gold mine. They can also see the historic Bourlamaque mining village. This village is so important that it became a provincial historic site in 1979. Later, in 2012, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada.
Contents
Discovering Gold and Mining History
The story of the Lamaque mine began in 1923. That's when a large gold deposit was first found. The mine officially started working in 1935. For many years, it was a busy place, digging up lots of gold.
However, all mines eventually run out of their valuable resources. The Lamaque gold mine closed in 1985. It had given all its gold and was no longer active. Today, it's a fascinating museum.
Underground Adventures and Training
Since 2000, the Cité de l'Or has hosted a unique event. One part of the Tour de l'Abitibi bike race happens here. Cyclists actually race inside the mine! They go about 300 feet (91 m) (90 meters) underground.
Riders must pedal through dark tunnels. Then, they race up a very steep access ramp. This ramp has a 17% slope, which is quite a challenge! After this underground part, they continue their race through the streets of Val-d'Or.
The Cité de l'Or is also a place for learning. Since 2007, it has been used to train new miners. This means future miners can learn important skills in a real mine setting. It helps them get ready for their jobs.
Images for kids
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Underground stage of the Tour de l'Abitibi
See also
- List of museums in Quebec
- Culture of Quebec
- Gold extraction
- Gold prospecting
- Placer mining
- Quartz reef mining
