We admire it, we experience it. It is part of our history, gives rhythm to our landscapes and enriches our culinary identity. Life is animated around it and within it.
From its source to its mouth, the St. Lawrence flows some 1197 km, linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
Each of its sections offers a different habitat for a multitude of species.
As a result, its surface structures the landscapes of Quebec. But what lies beneath the St. Lawrence’s surface?
Seasons come and go, changing the St. Lawrence.
In autumn and winter, the water in the St. Lawrence is divided into two layers: the intermediate and deep layers.
In summer, the sun’s rays warm the water at the surface, creating a new stratification: the surface layer.
Temperatures vary between each stratum, allowing an initial distribution of species in the St. Lawrence.
And so that each species can find its place, algae, fish, molluscs, crustaceans and marine mammals can also rely on substrates d’argile, de sable, de gravillons ou de petites roches pour trouver le parfait lieu de vie ou d’abri.
All these characteristics make the St. Lawrence a unique place comprising multiple habitats in which a rich biodiversity lives and evolves together.
Speaking of biodiversity… How do aquatic species live together?
This project was made possible through funding from Digital Museums Canada and the participation and collaboration of Université Laval.
© 2025 A Wave of Flavours
