Mouth of the Saint-Lawrence

The St. Lawrence widens into a great estuary where its fresh waters meet the Atlantic tides. Near the mouth of the Saguenay, the deep Laurentian Channel ends abruptly, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water towards the surface. Plankton and fish gather there, attracting whales including belugas, which also travel into the Saguenay fjord. Islands and shoals divide the broad water upstream, while currents and seasonal ice make the passage a demanding one for sailors.