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72-399: The Wayagamac lake is located 10 km (direct line) southeast of the city of La Tuque . This lake is surrounded by mountains Laurentides . With some peaks exceeding 400 meters This Upper-Mauricie lake is segmented into three parts, the most important is the west side. It measures 9.2 km in length (east-west) and 5.9 km wide (north-south). The two main tributaries of the lake are

144-564: A composite material comprising an outer layer of vinyl and hard acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic (ABS) and an inner layer of ABS foam bonded by heat treatment — was another plastic alternative for canoes until 2014. As a canoe material, Royalex is lighter, more resistant to UV damage, and more rigid, and has greater structural memory than non-composite plastics such as polyethylene . Canoes made of Royalex are, however, more expensive than canoes made from aluminum or from traditionally molded or roto-molded polyethylene hulls. Royalex

216-464: A humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfb ) with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , La Tuque had a population of 11,129 living in 5,543 of its 6,930 total private dwellings, a change of 1.2% from its 2016 population of 11,001 . With a land area of 24,809.4 km (9,579.0 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.4/km (1.2/sq mi) in 2021. The population of

288-686: A logjam without needing to be portaged . The Kootenai of the Canadian province of British Columbia made sturgeon-nosed canoes from pine bark, designed to be stable in windy conditions on Kootenay Lake . In recent years, First Nations in British Columbia and Washington State have been revitalizing the ocean-going canoe tradition. Beginning in the 1980s, the Heiltsuk and Haida were early leaders in this movement. The Paddle to Expo 86 in Vancouver by

360-434: A city. Canoe A canoe is a lightweight narrow water vessel , typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using paddles. In British English , the term canoe can also refer to a kayak , whereas canoes are then called Canadian or open canoes to distinguish them from kayaks. However, for official competition purposes,

432-661: A designer of canoes, some experimental, at the end of the 19th century. Sprint canoe was a demonstration sport at the 1924 Paris Olympics and became an Olympic discipline at the 1936 Berlin Olympics . When the International Canoe Federation was formed in 1946, it became the umbrella organization of all national canoe organizations worldwide. Hull design must meet different, often conflicting, requirements for speed, carrying capacity, maneuverability, and stability The canoe's hull speed can be calculated using

504-500: A few pre-Columbian Caribbean canoes have been found. Several families of trees could have been used to construct Caribbean canoes, including woods of the mahogany family (Meliaceae) such as the Cuban mahogany ( Swietenia mahagoni ), that can grow up to 30–35 m tall and the red cedar ( Cedrela odorata ), that can grow up to 60 m tall, as well as the ceiba genus (Malvacae), such as Ceiba pentandra , that can reach 60–70 m in height. It

576-550: A framework. Examples include the kayak and umiak . In 19th-century North America, the birch-on-frame construction technique evolved into the wood-and-canvas canoes made by fastening an external waterproofed canvas shell to planks and ribs by boat builders such as Old Town Canoe , E. M. White Canoe , Peterborough Canoe Company and at the Chestnut Canoe Company in New Brunswick . Though similar to bark canoes in

648-474: A link to cultural tradition. The Māori , indigenous Polynesian people , arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe (called waka ) voyages. Canoe traditions are important to the identity of Māori. Whakapapa (genealogical links) back to the crew of founding canoes served to establish the origins of tribes, and defined tribal boundaries and relationships. Modern canoe types are usually categorized by

720-440: A maximum length of 4.3 m (14 ft). C2s must have a minimum weight and width of 18 kg (40 lb) and 0.8 metres (2 ft 7 in), and a maximum length of 5 metres (16 ft). Rudders are prohibited. The canoes are decked boats which must be propelled by single bladed paddles, with the paddler kneeling inside. Marathons are long-distance races which may include portages . Under ICF rules, minimum canoe weight

792-675: A means of transport, with industrialization they became popular as recreational or sporting watercraft. John MacGregor popularized canoeing through his books, founding the Royal Canoe Club in London in 1866 and the American Canoe Association in 1880. The Canadian Canoe Association was founded in 1900 and the British Canoe Union in 1936. In Sweden, naval officer Carl Smith was both an enthusiastic promoter of canoeing and

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864-523: A nearby rock formation which resembles a French-Canadian knitted cap known as the tuque . In 1823–24, the explorer François Verreault described the location as: « un Portage nommé Ushabatshuan (le courant trop fort pour le sauter). Les Voyageurs le nomment la Tuque, à cause d'une Montagne haute, dont le pic ressemble à une Tuque. Ce portage est d'une lieue, avec des fortes côtes à monter » . ("a portage named Ushabatshuan ('the rapids too strong to jump'). The voyageurs call it La Tuque, due to

936-416: A section of river (although whitewater canoeists will often stop and play en route). Specialized canoes known as playboats can be used. A square-stern canoe is an asymmetrical canoe with a squared-off stern for the mounting of an outboard motor , and is meant for lake travel or fishing. Since mounting a rudder on the square stern is very easy, such canoes often are adapted for sailing . A canoe launch

1008-545: A single-blade paddle . Since canoes have no rudder , they must be steered by the athlete's paddle using a J-stroke . Canoes may be entirely open or be partly covered. The minimum length of the opening on a C1 is 280 cm (110 in). Boats are long and streamlined with a narrow beam , which makes them very unstable. A C4 can be up to 9 m (30 ft) long and weigh 30 kg (66 lb). International Canoe Federation (ICF) classifications include C1 (solo), C2 (crew of two), and C4 (crew of four). Race distances at

1080-560: A tall mountain whose peak resembles a "tuque." The portage is a league long, and climbs steep slopes.") The hat-shaped mountain which gave its name to the town of La Tuque is located between the Saint-Maurice River (left bank) and the WestRock paper mill. The summit of this mountain is about 245 m (804 ft). It is located 200 m (660 ft) from the river and about 400 m (1,300 ft) upstream (northeast side) of

1152-457: A typical length of 4.3 m (14 ft) and weight of 23 kg (50 lb), the canoes were light enough to be portaged , yet could carry a lot of cargo, even in shallow water. Although susceptible to damage from rocks, they are easily repaired. Their performance qualities were soon recognized by early European settler colonials , and canoes played a key role in the exploration of North America , with Samuel de Champlain canoeing as far as

1224-407: A vacuum process can be used to remove excess resin to reduce weight. A gel coat on the outside gives a smoother appearance. With stitch and glue , plywood panels are stitched together to form a hull shape, and the seams are reinforced with fiber reinforced composites and varnished. A cedar strip canoe is essentially a composite canoe with a cedar core. Usually fiberglass is used to reinforce

1296-529: A wood frame, construction materials later evolved to canvas on a wood frame, then to aluminum. Most modern canoes are made of molded plastic or composites such as fiberglass , or those incorporating kevlar or graphite . The word canoe came into English from the French word "casnouey" adopted from the Saint-Lawrence Iroquoians language in the 1535 Jacques Cartier Relations translated in 1600 by

1368-521: Is 10 and 14 kg (22 and 31 lb) for C1 and C2, respectively. Other rules can vary by race. For example, athletes in the Classique Internationale de Canots de la Mauricie race in C2s, with a maximum length of 5.6 m (18 ft 6 in), minimum width of 69 cm (27 in) at 8 cm (3 in) from the bottom of the centre of the craft, minimum height of 38 cm (15 in) at

1440-437: Is a French-Canadian tale of voyageurs who, after a night of heavy drinking on New Year's Eve at a remote timber camp want to visit their sweethearts some 100 leagues (about 400 km) away. Since they have to be back in time for work the next morning they make a pact with the devil . Their canoe will fly through the air, on condition that they not mention God's name or touch the cross of any church steeple as they fly by in

1512-721: Is composed of casing filled with stones. The dam has borrowed its name from the lake Wayagamac. The name "Dam Wayagamac" was officially registered on May 11, 1987, at the Bank of place names in Geographical Names Board of Canada . Coordinates of the dam: Longitude West (72° 41' 50"); North Latitude: (47° 23' 02"). According to Father G. Lemoine, the term "waweia gamak" akin to the Algonquin language and means "at Round Lake". Father Joseph-Étienne Guinard consider that "waiagamak", set for "wawiagamaw" has meaning for "Round Lake". Yet its shape

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1584-410: Is easy to repair. Kevlar is popular with paddlers looking for a light, durable boat that will not be taken in whitewater. Fiberglass and Kevlar are strong but lack rigidity. Carbon fiber is used in racing canoes to create a very light, rigid construction usually combined with Kevlar for durability. Boats are built by draping the cloth in a mold, then impregnating it with a liquid resin . Optionally,

1656-427: Is great in these waters, full of cataracts or waterfalls, and rapids through which it is impossible to take any boat. When you reach them you load canoe and baggage upon your shoulders and go overland until the navigation is good; and then you put your canoe back into the water, and embark again." American painter, author and traveler George Catlin wrote that the bark canoe was "the most beautiful and light model of all

1728-428: Is heavier and less suited for high-performance paddling than fiber-reinforced composites such as fiberglass , kevlar , or graphite . Roto-molded polyethylene is a cheaper alternative to Royalex. Modern canoes are generally constructed by layering a fiber material inside a "female" mold. Fiberglass is the most common material used in manufacturing canoes. Fiberglass is not expensive, can be molded to any shape, and

1800-480: Is likely that these canoes were built in a variety of sizes, ranging from fishing canoes holding just one or a few people to larger ones able to carry as many as a few dozen, and could have been used to reach the Caribbean Islands from the mainland. Reports by historical chroniclers claim to have witnessed a canoe "containing 40 to 50 Caribs [...] when it came out to trade with a visiting English ship". There

1872-415: Is marked by a shallow arch hull with a relatively large amount of rocker, giving optimal balance for wilderness tripping over lakes and rivers with some rapids . A touring canoe is sometimes covered with a greatly extended deck, forming a "cockpit" for the paddlers. A cockpit has the advantage that the gunwales can be made lower and narrower so the paddler can reach the water more easily. A freestyle canoe

1944-570: Is not a protected area recognized by the Government of Quebec . By exception, logging and mining are permitted. A heronry and bird colony are based on Steamboat Island, located in the center of Lake Wayagamac. The lake also serves as a water intake for the La Tuque municipal water system. Wayagamac Dam Built in 1953, this high-capacity dam has a length of 55 m and 6 m high. It has a holding capacity of 145 million cubic meters of water. The structure

2016-404: Is specialized for whitewater play and tricks. Most are identical to short, flat-bottomed kayak playboats except for their internal outfitting. The paddler kneels and uses a single-blade canoe paddle. Playboating is a discipline of whitewater canoeing where the paddler performs various technical moves in one place (a playspot), as opposed to downriver where the objective is to travel the length of

2088-537: Is still much dispute regarding the use of sails in Caribbean canoes. Some archaeologists doubt that oceanic transportation would have been possible without the use of sails, as winds and currents would have carried the canoes off course. However, no evidence of a sail or a Caribbean canoe that could have made use of a sail has been found. Furthermore, no historical sources mention Caribbean canoes with sails. One possibility could be that canoes with sails were initially used in

2160-524: Is still used as such, sometimes with the addition of an outboard motor . Where the canoe played a key role in history, such as the Northern United States , Canada, and New Zealand, it remains an important theme in popular culture . For instance, the birch bark canoe of the largely birch-based culture of the First Nations of Quebec, Canada, and North America provided these hunting peoples with

2232-479: Is triangular rather than round. This name, in the form of Wayagamack was mentioned in 1876 in a report of the surveyor Télésphore Chavigny Of Chevrotière. As of 1913, Wayagamack identified a pulp and paper established Trois-Rivières . The name "Lake Wayagamac" was officially registered on December 5, 1968, at the "Bank to place names" of the Commission de toponymie du Québec . In addition, Kruger, in partnership with

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2304-421: The 2012 Olympic Games were 200 and 1000 meters. In ICF whitewater slalom , paddlers negotiate their way down 300 m (980 ft) of whitewater rapids through a series of up to 25 gates (pairs of hanging poles). The colour of the poles indicates the direction in which the paddlers must pass through; time penalties are assessed for striking poles or missing gates. Categories are C1 (solo) and C2 (tandem),

2376-483: The Amazon commonly used Hymenaea ( Fabaceae ) trees. Some Australian aboriginal peoples made bark canoes. They could be made only from the bark of certain trees (usually red gum or box gum ) and during summer. After cutting the outline of the required size and shape, a digging stick was used to cut through the bark to the hardwood, and the bark was then slowly prised out using numerous smaller sticks. The slab of bark

2448-530: The Chestnut Prospector and Old Town Tripper derivates, are touring canoes for wilderness trips. They are typically made of heavier and tougher materials and designed with the ability to carry large amounts of gear while being maneuverable enough for rivers with some whitewater . Prospector is now a generic name for derivates of the Chestnut model, a popular type of wilderness tripping canoe. The Prospector

2520-661: The Georgian Bay in 1615. In 1603 a canoe was brought to Sir Robert Cecil 's house in London and rowed on the Thames by Virginian Indians from Tsenacommacah . In 1643 David Pietersz. de Vries recorded a Mohawk canoe in Dutch possession at Rensselaerswyck capable of transporting 225 bushels of maize. René de Bréhant de Galinée , a French missionary who explored the Great Lakes in 1669, declared: "The convenience of these canoes

2592-534: The Heiltsuk and the 1989 Paddle to Seattle by multiple Native American tribes on the occasion of Washington State's centennial year were early instances of this. In 1993 a large number of canoes paddled from up and down the coast to Bella Bella in its first canoe festival – Qatuwas. The revitalization continued, and Tribal Journeys began with trips to various communities held in most years. Australian aboriginal people made canoes from hollowed out tree trunks , as well as from tree bark. The indigenous people of

2664-682: The National Transcontinental Railway , connected Quebec City to the Canadian Prairies and goes through vast wilderness areas of northern Quebec and Ontario. While it was intended to ship grain from the prairies to the Port of Quebec and to open up virgin territories, it never carried much rail traffic. However, it is still serviced by Via Rail at the La Tuque railway station and Parent railway station , with request stops at Fitzpatrick , Oskélanéo , and Clova . Other sidings along

2736-476: The Saint-Maurice River , between Trois-Rivières and Chambord . The population was 11,129 at the 2021 Canadian census , most of which live within the urban area . At over 28,000 km (11,000 sq mi), it is the largest city in Canada by area . The Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie canoeing race begins at La Tuque. The name, which dates to the eighteenth century, originates from

2808-639: The Société générale de financement du Québec (SGF Rexfor), has acquired the Kruger Wayagamack factory in 2001. This plant is located on the Ile-de-la-Potherie, in Trois-Rivières . La Tuque, Quebec La Tuque ( / l ɑː ˈ t j uː k / lah TEWK , French: [la tyk] , Canadian French : [la t͡sʏk] ) is a city located in north-central Quebec , Canada, on

2880-459: The pitch of balsam fir . The ribs of the canoe, called verons in Canadian French , were made of white cedar , and the hull, ribs, and thwarts were fastened using watap , a binding usually made from the roots of various species of conifers , such as the white spruce , black spruce , or cedar , and caulked with pitch . Skin canoes are constructed using animal skins stretched over

2952-517: The American distinction between a kayak and a canoe is almost always adopted. At the Olympics, both conventions are used: under the umbrella terms Canoe Slalom and Canoe Sprint, there are separate events for canoes and kayaks. Canoes were developed in cultures all over the world, including some designed for use with sails or outriggers . Until the mid-19th century, the canoe was an important means of transport for exploration and trade, and in some places

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3024-788: The Caribbean but later abandoned before European contact. This, however, seems unlikely, as long-distance trade continued in the Caribbean even after the prehistoric colonisation of the islands. Hence, it is likely that early Caribbean colonists made use of canoes without sails. Native American groups of the north Pacific coast made dugout canoes in a number of styles for different purposes, from western red cedar ( Thuja plicata ) or yellow cedar ( Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ), depending on availability. Different styles were required for ocean-going vessels versus river boats, and for whale-hunting versus seal-hunting versus salmon -fishing. The Quinault of Washington State built shovel-nose canoes with double bows, for river travel that could slide over

3096-645: The English geographer Richard Hackluyt. Many peoples have made dugout canoes throughout history, carving them out of a single piece of wood: either a whole trunk or a slab of trunk from particularly large trees. Dugout canoes go back to ancient times. The Dufuna canoe , discovered in Nigeria, dates back to 8500–8000 BC. The Pesse canoe , discovered in the Netherlands, dates back to 8200–7600 BC. Excavations in Denmark reveal

3168-526: The La Tuque hydroelectric power plant. The territory of La Tuque was first inhabited by Atikamekw Indigenous people. In the early 1850s, settlers were drawn to the area to exploit the forest resources. The La Tuque Post Office opened in 1887, but the area remained isolated from the rest of the Mauricie until the early 1900s when the National Transcontinental Railway was built, prompting industrial development and

3240-461: The La Tuque territorial equivalent according to the Canada 2021 Census is 15,038. The local economy centres on pulp and paper ; the city has a pulp-milling centre as well as a major hydroelectric station. As the gateway to the upper Mauricie, La Tuque's economy also offers outdoor tourism opportunities and caters to hunting and fishing trips in its large hinterland , which is partially regulated by

3312-525: The Pacific Ocean and the Mackenzie River , and continued to be used up to the end of the 19th century. The indigenous peoples of eastern Canada and the northeast United States made canoes using the bark of the paper birch , which was harvested in early spring by stripping off the bark in one piece, using wooden wedges. Next, the two ends ( stem and stern ) were sewn together and made watertight with

3384-743: The Town of La Tuque, with Wenceslas Plante as first mayor. In the 1940s, the hydro-electric generating station on the Saint-Maurice River was built, resulting in the partial destruction of the rock formation that gave the town its name. In 1972, the Municipality of Haute-Mauricie was formed out of portions from the unincorporated Carignan and Malhiot Townships, in the proximity of the Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve . However, its low population and constantly rising administrative costs led to

3456-460: The bark and tying it at each end, with a framework of cross-ties and ribs. This type was known as a pleated or tied bark canoe. Bark strips could also be sewn together to make larger canoes, known as sewn bark canoes. Many indigenous peoples of the Americas built bark canoes. They were usually skinned with birch bark over a light wooden frame, but other types could be used if birch was scarce. At

3528-421: The bow and 25 cm (10 in) at the centre and stern. The Texas Water Safari , at 422 km (262 mi), includes an open class, the only rule being the vessel must be human-powered . Although novel setups have been tried, the fastest so far has been the six-man canoe. A "touring" or "tripping" canoe is a boat for traveling on lakes and rivers with capacity for camping gear. Tripping canoes, such as

3600-555: The canoe since it is clear and allows a view of the cedar. Before the invention of fiberglass, aluminum was the standard choice for whitewater canoeing due to its value and strength by weight. This material was once more popular but is being replaced by modern lighter materials. "It is tough, durable, and will take being dragged over the bottom very well", as it has no gel or polymer outer coating which would make it subject to abrasion. The hull does not degrade from long term exposure to sunlight, and "extremes of hot and cold do not affect

3672-477: The canoe. One version of this fable ends with the coup de grâce when, still high in the sky, the voyageurs complete the hazardous journey but the canoe overturns, so the devil can honour the pact to deliver the voyageurs and still claim their souls. In John Steinbeck 's novella The Pearl , set in Mexico, the main character's canoe is a means of making a living that has been passed down for generations and represents

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3744-416: The cities of Ottawa and Montreal , as well as the northern US states. In 2011, the 100th anniversary of La Tuque was celebrated with various cultural activities, including a large parade held on June 25 as well as the creation of a recipe book made by local residents. While the urban area of La Tuque is relatively small, its entire territory is the largest city in Canada. It consists of almost all

3816-494: The city of La Tuque. Following the referendum on recreating La Bostonnais and Lac-Édouard , the agglomeration of La Tuque was created to allow municipalities to manage in common some competencies. La Tuque is a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality (TE) and census division of Quebec , with geographical code 90. The TE of La Tuque consists of: The mayor is the municipality's highest elected official. La Tuque has had fifteen mayors, since its incorporation as

3888-536: The competitor must kneel. In ICF wildwater canoeing , athletes paddle a course of class III to IV whitewater (using the International Scale of River Difficulty ), passing over waves, holes and rocks of a natural riverbed in events lasting either 20–30 minutes ("Classic" races) or 2–3 minutes ("Sprint" races). Categories are C1 and C2 for both women and men. C1s must have a minimum weight and width of 12 kg (26 lb) and 0.7 m (2 ft 4 in), and

3960-520: The dam and the Wayagamac lake. The mouth of the river flows into the Saint-Maurice River at the southern boundary of the city of La Tuque (just south of the airport). From the discharge of Little Wayagamac lake, the Little Bostonnais River water runs westbound on 23.6 km of which 8.6 km through the Wayagamac lake. Heron colony Like other zec of Québec , the zec de la Bessonne

4032-549: The dumps of "Petit lac Wayagamac" (Small lake Wayagamac) (located 4.4 km to the East by the water) and Tom Lake (located 1.2 km south by water). Little Bostonians River From the outlet of Little Wayagamac Lake, the Little Bostonnais River course 4.4 km (measured on water) before flowing into the lake Wayagamac (southeast side). Wayagamac lake discharges from the west in the Little Bostonnais River which has an approximate length of 10.6 km (measured by water) between

4104-469: The entire former regional county municipality of Le Haut-Saint-Maurice , and includes the settlements of Carignan, Clova , La Croche, Fitzpatrick, Kiskissink , Oskélanéo , Parent , Rapide-Blanc, Rivière-aux-Rats, and Sanmaur . Enclosed by but not administratively part of the city are the three First Nations reserves of Coucoucache , Obedjiwan , and Wemotaci . Notable bodies of water in La Tuque are: Notable rivers in La Tuque are: La Tuque has

4176-637: The following zone d'exploitation contrôlées : The main highway is Quebec Route 155 that connects La Tuque with Shawinigan to the south and the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region to the north. Numerous forest roads provide access to remote hunting and fishing camps, and the village of Parent is accessible by a 175 kilometres (109 mi) long gravel road from Mont-Saint-Michel in the Laurentides region . The Canadian National Railway dissects La Tuque's territory. This railway, built in 1910 by

4248-533: The growth of a community on the east bank of the Saint-Maurice River where there was a large set of falls. On November 15, 1909, the Village Municipality of La Tuque was incorporated, with Achille Comeau as first mayor. A few months later on April 4, 1910, the Village Municipality of La Tuque Falls was formed, with Wenceslas Plante as first mayor. Less than one year later in March 1911, both villages merged to form

4320-413: The intended use. Many modern canoe designs are hybrids (a combination of two or more designs, meant for multiple uses). The purpose of the canoe will also often determine the materials used. Most canoes are designed for either one person (solo) or two people ( tandem ), but some are designed for more than two people. Sprint canoe is also known as flatwater racing. The paddler kneels on one knee and uses

4392-468: The latter for two men, and C2M (mixed) for one woman and one man. C1 boats must have a minimum weight and width of 10 kg (22 lb) and 0.65 m (2 ft 2 in) and be not more than 3.5 m (11 ft) long. C2s must have a minimum weight and width of 15 kg (33 lb) and 0.75 m (2 ft 6 in), and be not more than 4.1 m (13 ft). Rudders are prohibited. Canoes are decked and propelled by single-bladed paddles, and

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4464-480: The line are Casey , Hibbard , Cann , Sanmaur , Vandry , Windigo , and Rapide-Blanc-Station . The La Tuque Airport is located directly south of the town's centre on Route 155. La Tuque Water Aerodrome is located just north of the city centre. The Urban agglomeration of La Tuque is an urban agglomeration that consists of: The agglomeration comprises the elements of the redefined city of La Tuque as it existed after amalgamation on March 26, 2003, including

4536-527: The material". It can dent, is difficult to repair, is noisy, can get stuck on underwater objects, and requires buoyancy chambers to assist in keeping the canoe afloat in a capsize. In Canada, the canoe has been a theme in history and folklore, and is a symbol of Canadian identity . From 1935 to 1986 the Canadian silver dollar depicted a canoe with the Northern Lights in the background. The Chasse-galerie

4608-765: The merger of Haute-Mauricie with La Tuque in August 1993. On March 26, 2003, Le Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County Municipality was dissolved and all its municipalities and unorganized territories were amalgamated into the new City of La Tuque, thereby becoming the largest municipality with city status in land area in Quebec, and largest in Canada (38,000 km ). On January 1, 2006, the municipalities of La Bostonnais and Lac-Édouard separated and were reestablished. In May 2010, some 120 forest fires broke out around La Tuque , burning until June. Smoke from these fires reached portions of Eastern Ontario and southern Quebec, including

4680-424: The mobility essential to this way of life. Canoes are now widely used for competition — indeed, canoeing has been part of the Olympics since 1936 — and pleasure, such as racing , whitewater , touring and camping , freestyle and general recreation . The intended use of the canoe dictates its hull shape, length , and construction material. Although canoes were historically dugouts or made of bark on

4752-419: The principles of ship resistance and propulsion . Folding canoes usually consist of a PVC skin around an aluminum frame. Inflatable canoes contain no rigid frame members and can be deflated, inflated, folded, and stored in bags and boxes. The more durable types consist of an abrasion-resistant nylon or rubber outer shell with separate PVC air chambers for the two side tubes and the floor. Royalex —

4824-489: The two municipalities that chose to de-merge on January 1, 2006. The agglomeration of La Tuque succeeded to the regional county municipality of Haut-Saint-Maurice , which was created in 1982 from part of the Quebec ridings 's (county's) of Champlain electoral district , of Quebec electoral district of Saint-Maurice and of Abitibi . Le Haut-Saint-Maurice was dissolved during the merger of all municipalities in 2003 to create

4896-410: The use of ribs , and a waterproof covering, the construction method is different, being built by bending ribs over a solid mold. Once removed from the mold, the decks, thwarts and seats are installed, and canvas is stretched tightly over the hull. The canvas is then treated with a combination of varnishes and paints to render it more durable and watertight . Although canoes were once primarily

4968-455: The use of dugouts and paddles during the Ertebølle period, ( c.  5300  – c.  3950 BC ). Canoes played a vital role in the colonisation of the pre-Columbian Caribbean , as they were the only means of reaching the Caribbean Islands from mainland South America. Around 3500 BC, ancient Amerindian groups colonised the first Caribbean Islands using single-hulled canoes. Only

5040-628: The water crafts that ever were invented". The first explorer to cross the North American continent, Alexander Mackenzie , used canoes extensively, as did David Thompson and the Lewis and Clark Expedition . In the North American fur trade , the Hudson's Bay Company 's voyageurs used three types of canoe: The birch bark canoe was used in a 6,500-kilometre (4,000 mi) supply route from Montreal to

5112-403: Was held in place by branches or handwoven rope, and after separation from the tree, lowered to the ground. Small fires would then be lit on the inside of the bark to cause the bark to dry out and curl upwards, after which the ends could be pulled together and stitched with hemp and plugged with mud. It was then allowed to mature, with frequent applications of grease and ochre . The remaining tree

5184-427: Was later dubbed a canoe tree by Europeans. Because of the porosity of the bark, these bark canoes did not last too long (about two years ). They were mainly used for fishing or crossing rivers and lakes to avoid long journeys. They were usually propelled by punting with a long stick. Another type of bark canoe was made out of a type of stringybark gum known as Messmate stringybark ( Eucalyptus obliqua ), pleating

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