Return to Ecosystems

The Bay

The Bay of Chaleur takes its name from Jacques Cartier, having named it in 1534. The mist that covered it would have made it feel like the water was hot.

It covers about 100 kilometres at shallow depths, between 50 and 90 metres.

Fed by tides and rivers, the bay is rich in minerals and nutrients, becoming the pantry and nursery for a wide variety of animal species. These include marine mammals such as the harbour seal, coastal and marine birds such as the northern gannet, fish such as the inter flounder, and iconic crustaceans such as the lobster.