More than 400 million years ago, a meteorite
coming from Mars and Jupiter’s asteroid belt landed on Earth. This important
fall created a crater of more than fifty kilometers of diameter, covering the
area from Baie-Saint-Paul to the Mont des Éboulements to La Malbaie. A few
years later, the crater was flooded by the sea. Once the water gone due to
ground elevation, the land was left naturally rich in carbon atoms and oxygen,
making it a fertile soil favorable to agriculture and life.
The phenomenon to which we owe the crater of
Charlevoix and its particular relief is today known as the Astroblème de
Charlevoix.
According to Jehan Rondot, geologist of
Charlevoix, « of all the earth’s astroblemes, this is the only one which still
has a visible enclosure with a relief that would resemble lunar craters ».
Although the St. Lawrence River now covers more than one third of the
astrobleme, it is possible to see the crater from the villages of Sainte-Marie
des Éboulements and Saint Jean-Baptiste. The village Les Éboulements also
offers a great view on the hills forming the point of the crater.
Since its opening in 2010, the Observatory of
Charlevoix, set in Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu’s previous Clubhouse, has been
welcoming visitors, students and corporate groups for activities and
presentations on the astrobleme and the solar system.
From June to September
www.astroblemecharlevoix.org
The phenomenon to which we owe the crater of
Charlevoix and its particular relief is today known as the Astroblème de
Charlevoix.