Destinations: St. Pierre & Miquelon
The Expedition Vessel WANDERBIRD spends part of her season cruising maritime Canada and passengers meet us at several ports-of-call along the way to participate in all or part of the journey.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon are situated south of Newfoundland. The distance from these islands to the Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland is just 13 miles. Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are part of France. They are the only remnant of the former colonial empire of New France that remains under French control. (PASSPORT NEEDED! )
St Pierre came to be because of its proximity to the cod fishery on the Grand Banks, and later played a pivotal role during prohibition in the heyday of rum running.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is actually an archipelago of eight islands, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon being the major ones. St. Pierre is separated from Miquelon by a 3.2 mile strait with very fierce currents. Fishermen call this section of ocean "The Mouth of Hell". The waters around these islands are very treacherous, and there have been over 600 shipwrecks along the coasts of the islands. The island of Miquelon consists of three formerly separate islands. In the 18th century an isthmus of sand formed naturally between Miquelon and Langlade to what is now a 8 mile sand dune. Local legend says that the entire isthmus was built around the over 500 wrecks that took place in the area.
The climate is damp and windy. Spring and early summer are foggy and cool. Puffins, seals and other wildlife can be found in this region and every spring, whales migrating to Greenland are visible off the coasts of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
(For all calls to St. Pierre & Miquelon from the U.S. or Canada, please dial 011 508 and then your correspondents number.)
Sailing Schedule
Getting There: Directions & Resources
