Rivière-au-Tonnerre (Rivière-au-Tonnerre)
Rivière-au-Tonnerre is a municipality in the Côte-Nord region of the province of Quebec in Canada.
In addition to Riviere-au-Tonnerre itself, the communities within the municipality include Rivière-Pigou, Rivière-aux-Graines, and Sheldrake, all located along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and accessible via Quebec Route 138.
The main and almost exclusive local economic activity is crab fishing. A factory which processes the crab meat sustains the bulk of the population.
The eponymous Thunder River (French: Riviere au Tonnerre), which flows through the municipality, has a large series of waterfalls at 5 km from its mouth in the Saint Lawrence. These falls with a total drop of about 50 m have a roar that reminds one of the noise caused by thunder. The Manitou River, not far west, also has dramatic falls near its mouth.
The first permanent settlers arrived circa 1853 or 1854, and founded Sheldrake and Riviere-au-Tonnerre as fishing settlements. In 1875, more pioneers followed, originating notably from Paspébiac in the Gaspésie region. At the same time, the first chapel was built and the Parish of Saint-Hippolyte was formed. However it was commonly called Rivière-au-Tonnerre, like the settlement. In 1890, the post office opened under the English equivalent name of "Thunder River" (Frenchized in 1933). By 1908, there were 70 families engaged in agriculture. In 1925, the Municipality of Riviere-au-Tonnerre was formed.
In addition to Riviere-au-Tonnerre itself, the communities within the municipality include Rivière-Pigou, Rivière-aux-Graines, and Sheldrake, all located along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and accessible via Quebec Route 138.
The main and almost exclusive local economic activity is crab fishing. A factory which processes the crab meat sustains the bulk of the population.
The eponymous Thunder River (French: Riviere au Tonnerre), which flows through the municipality, has a large series of waterfalls at 5 km from its mouth in the Saint Lawrence. These falls with a total drop of about 50 m have a roar that reminds one of the noise caused by thunder. The Manitou River, not far west, also has dramatic falls near its mouth.
The first permanent settlers arrived circa 1853 or 1854, and founded Sheldrake and Riviere-au-Tonnerre as fishing settlements. In 1875, more pioneers followed, originating notably from Paspébiac in the Gaspésie region. At the same time, the first chapel was built and the Parish of Saint-Hippolyte was formed. However it was commonly called Rivière-au-Tonnerre, like the settlement. In 1890, the post office opened under the English equivalent name of "Thunder River" (Frenchized in 1933). By 1908, there were 70 families engaged in agriculture. In 1925, the Municipality of Riviere-au-Tonnerre was formed.
Map - Rivière-au-Tonnerre (Rivière-au-Tonnerre)
Map
Country - Canada
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Indigenous peoples have continuously inhabited what is now Canada for thousands of years. Beginning in the 16th century, British and French expeditions explored and later settled along the Atlantic coast. As a consequence of various armed conflicts, France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America in 1763. In 1867, with the union of three British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of four provinces. This began an accretion of provinces and territories and a process of increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom. This widening autonomy was highlighted by the Statute of Westminster 1931 and culminated in the Canada Act 1982, which severed the vestiges of legal dependence on the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Currency / Language
| ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAD | Canadian dollar | $ | 2 |
| ISO | Language |
|---|---|
| EN | English language |
| FR | French language |
| IU | Inuktitut |