Abitibi-Témiscamingue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abitibi-Témiscamingue is a region located in western Quebec, Canada along the border with Ontario. It became part of the province in 1898. As of 2006, the population of the region was about 145 000 [1]
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[edit] History
The land was first occupied about 8 000 years ago by the Algonquins aboriginal group. The first land expeditions were made in 1670 by Radisson as part of the development of the fur trade industry across the Hudson Bay region and through most of the New France colony.
However, the region started to develop during the late 19th and early 20th century with the development of agriculture and forest industries. However, its main colonization occurred during World War I and World War II when a large population coming for urban centers due to the effects of the Great Depression. Federal and provincial plans incited residents to move to undevelopped regions of the province.
The mining industry, which consists essentially of gold also contributed to the growth of the region when numerous mines were open across the region. New cities such as Rouyn-Noranda and Val d'Or were created and is still the backbone of the region's economy as of today.
[edit] Geography
The Abitibi-Temiscamingue region is the 4th largest region of the province after the Nord-du-Quebec, Côte-Nord and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean regions. It has a total surface of 65 000 kilometres square. Its largest cities are Rouyn-Noranda and Val d'Or.
The region has a mixture of mixte forest to the south across the Temiscamingue area while boreal forests covers the northern section.
The region like more southerly regions has a continental humid climate, but has much higher temperature variations due to its latitude and being closer to Hudson Bay and the Arctic.
[edit] Economy
The region has one of the highest percentage of workforce in the primary sector with near 1 out of 6 employees working in that sector. The mining sector is the most important economic activity of the region. Agriculture and forest industries despite recent declines in workforce still contributes significantly to the region's economy.
[edit] Education
The region is home to one university the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue part of the Quebec public university network.
[edit] Subdivisions
Regional County Municipalities
- Abitibi Regional County Municipality, Quebec
- Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality, Quebec
- La Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality, Quebec
- Témiscamingue Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Independent City
Indian Reserves
Most important cities: Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d'Or, Amos, Ville-Marie, La Sarre.
[edit] External link
 Subdivisions of Quebec |
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| Regions | Abitibi-Témiscamingue · Bas-Saint-Laurent · Capitale-Nationale · Centre-du-Québec · Chaudière-Appalaches · Côte-Nord · Estrie · Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine · Lanaudière · Laurentides · Laval · Mauricie · Montérégie · Montréal · Nord-du-Québec · Outaouais · Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean |
| Territories | Basse-Côte-Nord · Jamésie · Kativik · Nunavik |
| Separated cities | Gatineau · Lévis · Notre-Dame-des-Anges · Rouyn-Noranda · Saguenay · Saint-Augustin · Shawinigan · Sherbrooke · Trois-Rivières |
| Agglomeration areas | La Tuque · Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine · Longueuil · Montreal · Quebec City |
