Underwater world of the St. Lawrence River: Exploramer in the Bas-Saint-Laurent
If you continue east along the south bank of the St. Lawrence River, you'll reach a region where the river appears wider and calmer. The Bas-Saint-Laurent is characterized less by large cities and more by coastal towns, wide horizons, and a close connection to the water.
Exploramer is located in this landscape. It's not a traditional museum, but a place where the connection between the coast and the underwater world unfolds. Anyone who wants to experience Quebec beyond the surface and truly understand what shapes the river will find a different perspective here.
You can find an overview of possible routes along the river in our guide to Quebec in CanadaThe Exploramer is particularly suitable as a side trip if you are traveling towards the Gaspé Peninsula or along the southern shore.
Do you feel the same way: when I travel, I always want to learn a lot more about the region than is described in the travel guides? And it brings me to topics that I rarely think about otherwise. That's what happened to me on our last Quebec trip. This took us along the St. Lawrence River, which dominates the eastern part of the province. Traveling east from Quebec City, the river widens until, at Baie Comeau on its north bank and Matane on its south bank, it is so wide that you can barely see the opposite bank on the horizon. It took us a good two hours on the ferry to get from one bank to the other. When the sea was stormy, we took the evening ferry across to the south bank of the river. As I was almost lulled to sleep by the rough waves in my comfortable armchair, I asked myself what might be living in the waters below us? Certainly different species of fish. But what else?
The underwater world in the St. Lorenz Stream
The question wouldn't leave me alone. So the next morning we set off for Ste. Anne-des-Monts, a small town on the south coast of the St. Lawrence River in the Bas-Saint-Laurent department, which was still being churned up by wind-lashed waves. Whitecaps on the crests testified to the strength of the storm. Above, the sun shone intensely from a deep blue sky. Not a rain cloud in sight! So the slight wind shouldn't bother us. The aquarium is located on the Rue du Quai, where the Route du Parc from the Parc de la Gaspésie reaches the riverbank. Exploramerwhere visitors can learn about the flora and fauna of the great river. Actually, we planned to take the boat out to the river. On this tour, the experts on board show the wildlife in their natural habitat. However, the swell on this day was so stormy that the boat trip had to be canceled. The effects of the storm became apparent. Therefore, we had to settle for the tanks in the aquarium.
A guided tour through the aquarium
Not a bad exchange, as it turned out – I also escaped the seasickness that I would otherwise have expected. The naturalist, who was originally supposed to accompany us on board the ship, presented the underwater world of the St. Lorenz Stroms. We learned how they eat, how they protect themselves against attackers, how they hunt themselves, and how they reproduce. There are fascinating forms of adaptation to the depths of the river. What particularly struck me is that the underwater world of St. Lawrence is less colorful than that of the west coast of Canada. While a true color spectacle of colorful fish, brightly colored plants and colored starfish populates the habitat there, the colors in the waters of the St. Lorenz are rather muted.
Exploramer is located at 1 Rue du Quai in Ste. Anne-des-Monts in Quebec, Tel. (418) 763-2500.
If you'd like to extend your stay on the south shore, a trip to Kamouraska is worthwhile. There you'll find small shops, regional producers, and places that further slow down the pace of life. You can read about our impressions in our article about... Quebec souvenirs in Kamouraska as well as in the story about the Bakery at St. Lawrence.
Who would benefit from a visit to Exploramer?
The Exploramer is particularly well-suited to your itinerary if you're spending several days traveling along the St. Lawrence River. It's less suitable as a short stopover on a purely city-hopping trip between Montreal and Quebec City.
Those interested in nature, marine biology, or the ecological significance of the river will gain insights here that are unavailable from the road. For travelers with time and an interest in the coastal landscape, it makes a worthwhile addition to a drive along the southern bank.
Stay overnight in the Bas-Saint-Laurent
If you're traveling along the southern shore of the St. Lawrence River for several days, it's worth planning an overnight stay in Kamouraska or one of the surrounding coastal towns. The region is particularly suitable for travelers who don't just want to cover distance, but consciously slow down their pace.
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Do you also know:
- Quebec in Canada – Overview and routes
- Quebec attractions
- From Montreal to Quebec City along the King's Road
- The maritime heritage in Montreal on the St. Lawrence River
- Kamouraska and its small shops
- A bakery at St. Lawrence
Source Underwater world in the St. Lawrence River: On-site research with the support of Tourisme Quebec.
Text Sankt Lorenz Strom: Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline