2024-2025 Official Tourist Guide of the Îles de la Madeleine

Profile of the Region – Features of the Region

The Lagoons When two parallel dunes meet, they trap water between them and create a lagoon connected to the sea by narrow channels. These natural basins have some very important ecological functions. The lagoons are an excellent habitat for the growth and reproduction of lobster, herring, smelt, and other marine species. The warm, calm waters of the lagoons are also safe areas to enjoy windsurfing. In addition, the banks of the lagoons shelter large populations of marine and coastal fowl.

The Beaches Most of the sand on the beaches starts off as sandstone eroded from red cliffs. Once in the salt water, material from the cliffs loses its thin film of iron oxide and is carried around the islands by longshore currents before being deposited in spits whose general orientation is determined by the direction of the prevailing winds and currents. Once dry, the sand appears white. It accumulates on beaches and helps create the dunes. See the list of beaches on p. 61.

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