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| Important facts |
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Weather conditions are changeable and difficult to forecast precisely. |
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The fog rises very fast. |
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Windless days are unusual (July and August are the months when sea kayaking conditions are the most favorable). |
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The tidal currents are strong between the islands. |
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The southern part of the Archipelago is more exposed to sea swells breaking out against the sandbanks. |
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The water is very cold. Caution is essential everywhere and at all times. |
| Legend |
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Reef |
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Zone of tidal currents superior to approximately 2 knots (3,6 km per hour) |
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Current direction in rising tide |
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Current direction in ebbing tide
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6. |
Mingan Channel (between the Archipelago and the coast). Beware of westerly wind during rising tide. Big counter-current waves tending to break out. Beware of southerly and southwesterly winds. Crossed currents created by tidal streams.
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| 10. |
The channel between Quarry and Niapiska. Beware of southerly and northerly winds. Strong current. Presence of sandbanks. Venturi effect.
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| 11. |
Niapiska Channel (between Île du Fantôme and Île Niapiska). Beware of southerly and northerly winds. Strong current which speed can be influenced by strong wind conditions.
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| 14. |
Packuauashau Bay and Nadeau Cove during ebb tide. Coastal flats, shallow water, presence of exposed silt banks. Difficult access.
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| 15. |
Fantôme Channel (between Île du Fantôme and Île à Firmin). Beware of easterly wind during ebb tide and of westerly wind during high tide. Short and abrupt counter-current waves. Presence of reefs. Fast current.
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| 16. |
Île du Fantôme (facing the west and northwest point of the island). Beware of westerly wind. High waves increasing in scale during rising tide. Shallow water (Quin Reef).
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| 17. |
Havre Saint-Pierre. Beware of westerly wind during rising tide and of easterly wind during ebbing tide. Quick succession of counter-current short waves. Powerful current, approximately 3 knots (5.5 km per hour). Marked Venturi and channeling effects in the entrance of and into the harbor. Be careful, very important traffic in this maritime channel. Presence of sailing and fishing boats (especially close to the marina) and of ore carriers into the harbor as well as near the Q.I.T. plant.
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| 18. |
Île du Havre (between Île à Calculots and the southeast point of Île du Havre). Watch out for westerly, southwesterly and southerly winds. Breakers, powerful swell, strong current and many reefs.
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| 19. |
Walrus Channel. Beware of the southerly wind when against the current. Close counter-current waves, short and abrupt.
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| 20. |
Beach of Havre Saint-Pierre and Placide Vigneault Bay (east of the village of Havre Saint-Pierre). Beware of southerly, southwesterly and southeasterly winds. Abrupt surfing waves breaking against a strip of sandbanks approximately 10 meters off the coast. Shallow bay.
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| 21. |
Sandbanks at Eau Claire. Beware of westerly, southerly and easterly winds. Shallow water, powerful swell, breakers.
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| 22. |
Grande Pointe and Pointe Enragée. Beware of northeasterly, easterly, southeasterly, southerly, southwesterly and westerly winds. Big breakers, powerful swell (easterly wind). Presence of reefs. Shallow water up to 3 nautical miles offshore. Acceleration of easterly wind coming from the northeast at the end of the Pointe. |
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