Lanaudière

Lanaudière is one of the seventeen administrative regions of Quebec, situated immediately to the northeast of Montreal. It has a total population (2006 census) of 429,053 inhabitants.

Geography

The region of Lanaudière is part of central Quebec and is situated between the Saint Lawrence River and the Laurentian massif, between Mauricie and the Laurentides. Lanaudière attracts a good deal of interest from vacationers due to its unique character founded largely on the harmony between its culture and the surrounding natural environment. Lanaudière's 12,413.73 km² (4,792.97 sq mi) stretch northwest from a shore of 60 km of the Saint Lawrence River. Lanaudière is generally rural, while the urban areas are generally concentrated in the south of the region, such as Repentigny, Terrebonne and Berthierville. The altitude rises as one goes northwards; it is 20 metres near the Saint Lawrence River to almost 800 metres on the top of mountains near Saint-Donat and Saint-Zénon.

Lanaudière is made up of three distinct geographical groupings: the southern plain has cities and farming villages and includes many historical locations; the piedmont in the center has become a vacation spot due to its numerous lakes and natural attractions, and the Laurentian Plateau in the far north in the forested country is known for its fishing and hiking.

The three main ports of entry for Lanaudière are all in the south: Terrebonne, Repentigny and Berthierville.

Lanaudière's road network was developed according to three north south axes (25-125, 31-131, 347), all of which have few links with the neighboring regions. Even though this internal network is almost exclusively composed of secondary roads, it is well-designed for long automobile trips or for biking. Lanaudière has two wildlife preserves, the Rouge-Matawin and the Mastigouche, as well as part of the Mont Tremblant park. Further to the north, about an hour away from Saint-Michel-des-Saints, there is an Amerindian reservation where Atikamekw (Manawan) live.

History

The region of Lanaudière owes its name to history, for it perpetuates the memory of Marie-Charlotte de Lanaudière, daughter of the lord of Lavaltrie and wife of the businessman Barthélemy Joliette, descendant of the famous explorer Louis Jolliet. Lanaudière evokes the lineage of the lords De Lanaudière who contributed, over seven generations, to the defense and the development of the French colonies in America, to that of France and to that of the region.

ubdivisions

Regional County Municipalities
* D'Autray Regional County Municipality, Quebec
* Joliette Regional County Municipality, Quebec
* L'Assomption Regional County Municipality, Quebec
* Les Moulins Regional County Municipality, Quebec
* Matawinie Regional County Municipality, Quebec
* Montcalm Regional County Municipality, Quebec

Indian Reserve
* Manawan, Quebec

Major communities

*Berthierville
*Charlemagne
*Joliette
*L'Assomption
*L'Épiphanie
*Lavaltrie

*Mascouche
*Notre-Dame-des-Prairies
*Repentigny
*Saint-Gabriel
*Saint-Lin-Laurentides
*Terrebonne

ee also

*List of Quebec regions

External links

* [http://www.lanaudiere.gouv.qc.ca/ Portail régional de Lanaudière] Official website