Saguenay Fjord National Park

Established in 1983, Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park forms the terrestrial extension of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park and protects the natural environment surrounding one of North America's most remarkable geological formations. The fjord itself resulted from three major geological episodes: the Precambrian uplift of the Laurentian Mountains over 950 million years ago, the formation of a graben through the collapse of parallel faults between 190 and 175 million years ago, and subsequent glacial erosion that carved the current U-shaped valley, reaching depths of up to 278 metres below sea level. As the glaciers melted, the sea invaded the territory up to elevations of 150 to 250 metres, explaining the fjord's saline nature despite its distance from the estuary. The park is divided into several accessible sectors, including Baie-Éternité to the south, renowned for its network of trails, its via ferrata on the bay's rock faces and observation cruises, and Baie-Sainte-Marguerite to the north, a prime beluga watching site where these marine mammals frequent the shallow, food-rich waters. The Caps Trail, connecting Rivière-Éternité to L'Anse-Saint-Jean, and The Fjord, a long-distance hiking trail hugging the cliffs all the way to Tadoussac, rank among the most popular routes for serious hikers. The park's territory spans three tourist regions (Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Charlevoix, and the North Shore), illustrating the magnitude of the geographical phenomenon it protects.