Canada

The top third of Lake Champlain stretches into the Canadian Province of Quebec. This body of water is known as Misisquoi Bay. Lake Champlain is joined to the St. Lawrence River by the Richelieu River, which stretches from Rouses Point, New York to Sorel, Quebec. Travel on the Richelieu is a change of pace, whether from the open waters of Lake Champlain or the busy thoroughfare of the St. Lawrence. This trip is most often enjoyed by powerboats and sailboats under power, with their masts lowered on deck. North of Lake Champlain, the mountains, which have in many cases risen from the water's edge in the journey north from the New York Harbor, now recede into the distance. This is historic country, with settlements, forts, and buildings dating from the 1600s. The highlight is, without a doubt, the Chambly Canal, with its hand-operated locks and bridges and its energetic and friendly staff.

Places of Interest

Montreal is the second largest city in Canada and the largest city in the province of Quebec. According to the last Canadian census, the city itself - constituting an administrative region in the province - has 1,852,723 inhabitants, while 3,707,842 people live in the Greater Montreal Area (Statistics Canada 2004), making it one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world.

As in most parts of Quebec, French is the most common spoken language in the city. Nevertheless, Montreal has a substantial anglophone population and many of the residents are bilingual. Montreal is a global city, hosting a multitude of international festivals and events including the XXI Summer Olympiad, Juste pour Rire (Just for Laughs), the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, The World Film Festival, and many others. During the period of prohibition in the United States, Montreal became well-known as one of North America's "Sin Cities" with unparalleled nightlife, a reputation it still holds today. Areas to visit in Montreal include: downtown, Old Montreal, Olympic Village and Chinatown.

The St. Lawrence River between the Port of Montreal and Quebec City has three distinct regions. Beginning at the Montreal's Vieux Port (Old Port) and the Seaway's Saint Lambert Lock, the river flows between the industrial port facilities on the west bank and the residential and undeveloped shores and islands on the east. Once downstream of the port, the channel passes beside small villages and farms with only occasional industrial sites. Between Montreal and Sorel, the next largest city and port, there is a downstream current of several knots. At Sorel the second region of the river begins, un-riverlike, it consists of two portions: the river delta that forms the Iles (Islands) de Berthier et Sorel and Lac (Lake) Saint-Pierre. The islands provide a pleasant cruising ground of small channels, islands, and anchorages on both shores of the river. Lac Saint-Pierre, which is immediately east of the islands, is a 16 by 7 mile wide spot in the river. With a well marked channel in its center; its shallow waters are popular for fishing and sailing.

The city and port of Trois-Rivieres is located where the river narrows east of Lac Saint Pierre and is generally the upriver limit of ocean tides. The region of the river from Trois Rivieres to Quebec City is dominated by the tidal currents, which can be as high as 7 knots. Generally wider than the portion of the river upriver from Sorel, this portion of the river makes several pronounced turns, often beside prominent cliffs that form the shoreline. Small villages and farms frequently line the shore with only a few industrial sites. At locations such as the Richelieu Rapids and at the bridges upstream from Quebec City, the river narrows and its turbulence increases. Cap Diamant (Cape Diamond) forms the distinctive backdrop for historic Quebec City, the limit of upstream navigation for ocean-going vessels in the days of sail.

Quebec City is "the cradle of French civilization in North America," and is proudly preparing to celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2008. Lower Town, home to the first settlers of New France, encompasses the old port district and a host of other treasures. Leading the way to Upper Town are steep, winding roads and stairways with telling names, like Cote de la Montagne (Mountain Road) and Escalier Casse-Cou (Breakneck Stairway). And crowning it all is one the most photographed buildings in the world, the famous Chateau Frontenac, perched atop towering Cape Diamond. In Upper Town, the contours of the fortified city are easy to see and explore. In fact, all it takes is a short stroll to understand why Old Quebec was named a UNESCO World Heritage Treasure.