Forillon National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Forillon National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Cap Bon-Ami at sunset
Forillon National Park Location in Canada Show map of Canada Forillon National Park Location in Quebec Show map of Quebec
Location	Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, La Côte-de-Gaspé Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada
Nearest city	Gaspé, Quebec
Area	244 km2 (94 sq mi)
Established	8 June 1970
Visitors	137,070 (in 2007)
Governing body	Parks Canada

Forillon National Park is a special place in Canada. It is one of 42 national parks and park reserves across the country. You can find it at the very tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec. The park covers about 244 square kilometers (94 square miles).

Forillon was the first national park created in Quebec. This happened in 1970. The park has many different landscapes. You can see thick forests, beautiful sea coasts, and even salt marshes. There are also sand dunes, tall cliffs, and the eastern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The name Forillon might have come from an old word for a sea stack. This was a tall rock column that used to stand in the ocean nearby. It was a famous landmark, but it has since fallen into the sea.

History of Forillon National Park

For a very long time, this area was important to the Mi'kmaq and Haudenosaunee people. They used it as a place to hunt and fish during the summer months.

Later, people also used the area for its rich supply of wood. People living in a nearby town called L'Anse-au-Griffon worked in the lumber industry here.

Creating the Park and an Apology

When Forillon National Park was created in 1970, about 225 families had to move from their homes. The Canadian government asked the Quebec government to buy these homes. The way this was handled caused problems for the families.

On February 14, 2011, the House of Commons (which is part of Canada's government) said sorry to these families. They officially apologized for how they were treated when their properties were taken. This event is even mentioned in songs by Canadian artists, like "Forillon" by the group Le Vent du Nord and "La Gigue à Mitchounano" by Paul Piché.

Wildlife in Forillon National Park

Forillon National Park is home to many amazing animals. It is a great place for whales and seals. You can also find large groups of sea birds nesting on the cliffs.

Mammals of Forillon

Many different mammals live in the park's woodlands. These include:

• Red fox
• Black bear
• Moose
• Lynx
• Mink
• Coyote
• Woodchuck
• Porcupine
• Snowshoe hare
• Beaver
• Ermine

Birds of Prey in Forillon

The park is also a good spot to see different kinds of raptors, which are birds of prey. Some of these powerful birds include:

• Great horned owl
• Northern harrier
• Peregrine falcon
• Kestrel
• Bald eagle
• Rough-legged hawk
• Osprey

Activities and Sights in Forillon

There are many fun things to do and see in Forillon National Park. You can visit special sites to learn about the people and nature of the Forillon peninsula.

Historical Sites

The Grande-Grave National Heritage Site shows what life was like for fishing families long ago. You can visit the Hyman Store, which has old items that were sold there. People who work at the store will tell you stories about the busy fishing industry. Nearby, you can take a walk called "Une Tournée dans les Parages." This walk takes you past old houses, fields, and buildings from the early 1900s.

Coastal Adventures

Along the park's shores, you can go whale watching. It's an exciting way to see these huge animals in their natural home.

Fort Péninsule

Forillon National Park also has a historic site called Fort Péninsule. It is located near Penouille beach. This fort was built during World War II. Its job was to protect the Gaspé bay from enemy ships. Another fort, Fort Prével, was built on the other side of the bay. If Germany had taken over Europe, these forts would have protected British warships from German submarines. Today, visitors can go inside a tunnel and see the cannons that are still there from that time.

Gallery

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  Panoramic view from Mont Saint-Alban

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  View of Gaspé_Bay, facing West from Penouille (Peninsula Point), Forillon National Park

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  Cap Gaspé taken from Cap Bon-Ami, on the north side of the Forillon peninsula

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  The peninsula leading to Cap Gaspé in Forillon National Park, taken from Mont Saint-Alban

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  Rock formation called "Le Vieux" (the Old Man) and Cap Gaspé lighthouse

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  Tallest lighthouse in Canada at Park Forillon

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  Reproduction of a traditional salt cod fishery installation created for the 1998 TV series, "L'ombre de l'épervier"

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  Stepped cascade along the "La Chute" hiking trail

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  Waterfall along the "La Chute" hiking trail

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  Water splashing over mossy rocks. Close-up of waterfall along the "La Chute" hiking trail

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  Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) near Cap Gaspé

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  Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) near Cap Bon-Ami

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  Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) near Cap Bon-Ami

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  North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) at Cap Gaspé

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  One of two surviving 4.7-inch Mark IV guns at Fort Péninsule

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  Forillon National Park in fall

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  Forillon National Park in fall

The park as seen from the viewpoint atop Mt-St-Alban, looking southeast (at left) to northeast (at right).

Images for kids

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  Former fisherman's house of the national park.

See also

In Spanish: Parque nacional Forillon para niños