Gulf of Saint Lawrence facts for kids

The Gulf of Saint Lawrence

The Gulf of Saint Lawrence (which is golfe du Saint-Laurent in French) is a very large body of water in Canada. It's like a giant funnel where the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River empty into the Atlantic Ocean. It's actually the world's biggest estuary, which is a place where a river meets the sea.

This huge, semi-enclosed sea covers about 236,000 square kilometers (91,000 sq mi). It holds an amazing 35,000 cubic kilometers (7,700 billion imp gal) of water!

Where is the Gulf of Saint Lawrence?

The Gulf of Saint Lawrence is surrounded by different parts of Canada.

• To the north, you'll find the Labrador Peninsula.
• To the east, there's the island of Newfoundland.
• To the south, it's bordered by the Nova Scotia peninsula and Cape Breton Island.
• To the west, you'll see the Gaspé Peninsula and New Brunswick.

Inside the Gulf, there are also several islands:

• Anticosti Island
• Prince Edward Island
• The Magdalen Islands

Many rivers flow into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Some of the main ones include:

• The Miramichi River
• The Natashquan River
• The Restigouche River
• The Margaree River
• The Humber River

The Gulf also has many smaller bays and inlets, like:

• The Chaleur Bay
• Miramichi Bay
• St. George's Bay
• Bay of Islands
• The Northumberland Strait

How the Gulf Connects to the Ocean

The Gulf of Saint Lawrence connects to the wider Atlantic Ocean through a few important passages:

• The Strait of Belle Isle: This strait is between Labrador and Newfoundland. It's about 17 kilometers (11 miles) wide and 60 meters (200 feet) deep.
• The Cabot Strait: This is a wider passage between Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island. It's about 104 kilometers (65 miles) wide and much deeper, reaching 480 meters (1,570 feet).
• The Strait of Canso: This narrow strait is only about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) wide and 60 meters (200 feet) deep. It's located between Cape Breton Island and the main Nova Scotia peninsula.

Protecting Nature in the Gulf

Many special places in and around the Gulf of Saint Lawrence are protected to help nature thrive.

St. Paul Island, located off Cape Breton Island, is sometimes called the "Graveyard of the Gulf." This is because many ships have wrecked there over the years. The Canadian Coast Guard controls who can visit the island.

Other important places are sanctuaries for migratory birds, meaning birds that travel long distances. These include:

• Bonaventure Island (near the Gaspé Peninsula)
• Île Brion
• Rochers-aux-Oiseaux (also known as Bird Rock)

These bird sanctuaries are managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service.

The Government of Canada also protects several areas as national parks around the Gulf. These parks help preserve the natural beauty and wildlife of the region:

• Forillon National Park (on the eastern tip of the Gaspé)
• Prince Edward Island National Park (on the north shore of Prince Edward Island)
• Kouchibouguac National Park (on the northeast coast of New Brunswick)
• Cape Breton Highlands National Park (on the northern tip of Cape Breton Island)
• Gros Morne National Park (on Newfoundland's west coast)
• A national park reserve in the Mingan Archipelago (on Quebec's Côte-Nord)

Images for kids

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  Gulf shore at Cape Breton Highlands National Park

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  Bathymetry (underwater depth) of the gulf, showing the Laurentian Channel

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  Basque settlements and sites from the 1500s and 1600s

See also

In Spanish: Golfo de San Lorenzo para niños