Because of the variety of species that call the bottom home, the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park entrance, situated at Les Escoumins, is one of the most sought-after diving locations in Eastern Canada. The opportunity to get up close and personal with the marine animals that inhabit the St. Lawrence Estuary, including seals, humpback whales, fin whales, and beluga whales, is one of the most well-known tourist attractions.
Les Escoumins is a municipality that provides services. There are a number of public and private services available, including a hospital and the La Haute-Côte-Nord Health Centre. Furthermore, forestry, fishing, and tourism all play significant roles in the economy.
The town was recently designated as a relay village to offer a range of facilities, such as lodging, food, travel advice, and fuel.
Les Escoumins is a municipality in the administrative area of Côte-Nord 1 and the regional county municipality of La Haute-Côte-Nord in Quebec, Canada. The municipality is a part of the Québec Federation of Villages-relais. The closest town to Tadoussac is Les Escoumins, which boasts a tourist attraction in its bay.
On a voyage to Tadoussac in 1603, Samuel de Champlain wrote the following about this location: “Then, going to Esquemin, you come across two small low islands and a small rock on land.” The aforementioned islands are located roughly half a league away from Lesquemin, a terrible harbour that is ringed by rocks and drys up at low tide. Additionally, you must turn to access it behind a tiny rocky spot where only one ship is permitted. A bit higher up, there is a river that flows a little inland; this is the place where the Basques go whale fishing. The port is completely worthless, to be honest.” He mentions it in 1611 and 1626 as well. “Traditionally, it was agreed to see the Montagnais iskomin there, from isko or ishko, up to here, up to there, and min, red seeds, small wild fruits in general, from which there are many seeds, up to there are fruits, seeds.”
Les Escoumins is the first village founded on the Haute-Côte-Nord in 1860.
The Laurentian Pilotage Administration, a federal agency tasked with guiding ships across the treacherous waters of the St. Lawrence, makes its first stop in the municipality.
The pilot boat, a tiny, extremely swift vessel, is frequently utilized to convey the pilot or pilots, to take them aboard or out of the ships, depending on the situation.
Thanks to Connie Bishop, Co-Owner of COJO Diving in Lincoln, New Brunswick for her photo contributions.