Perce Rock

Piercing Interest

Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, Canada is aptly named. Its name derives from the Mi'kmaq Indian word gespeg, meaning “end of land”. It is the end of an eastern Canadian peninsula, and, more interestingly, just off the coast lies Percé Rock, the far northern end of the Appalachian mountains.

Percé Rock is one of nature's true wonders, and one of the most photographed places in Quebec, possibly in all of Canada. The 375 million year-old rock is an enormous limestone slab, 295 feet (90 m) wide, 279 feet (85 m) high at its highest point, and an awe-inspiring 1476 feet (450 m) long. The rock's name comes from the French word percé, “pierce”, so-called for the large opening that pierces the slab near the seaward end.

Legend maintains that at one point the rock was pierced in as many as four locations, but historical records only mention two holes. The second cave, to the east of the one visible today, collapsed in 1845. The sea stack L'Obelisque at the end of the monolith is an artifact of this cave-in.

For four hours each day the tide recedes enough to allow people to walk across to the rock. Tourists can walk to the cave, but it is an arduous trek. A better way to see the majesty of Percé Rock is to take one of the many boat tours that go around the rock.

The village of Percé was once the largest fishing port on the Gaspe Peninsula. It is now devoted to catering to the tourists who come to see the rock and visit the bird sanctuary on Bonaventure Island. It is also a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with hike and bike trails, camping nearby, and even scuba opportunities for those willing to brave the cold waters of Gaspe bay.