- Fort Témiscamingue
Fort Témiscamingue was a
trading post from the 17th century nearVille-Marie, Quebec , Canada, located on thefur trade route on the east shore ofLake Timiskaming . Nowadays, the fort is a National Historic Site of Canada.History
Circa 1679, the government of
New France established a fort on Lake Timiskaming to compete with the English posts on theHudson Bay , but was destroyed by theIroquois in 1688.Conseil de la culture de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, "Cultural Heritage and Tourism Discovery Guide", ISBN 2-9806153-2-3] In 1720, a new Fort Témiscamingue was founded by French merchants Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada] on a strategic location where the two shores of Lake Timiskaming come closer than m to ft|250|precision=-1 to each other,cite web |url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/temiscamingue/natcul/natcul1_E.asp |title=Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures |publisher=Parks Canada |accessdate=2008-09-29] a formerAlgonquin encampment site called "Obadjiwan Point" (meaning "the strait where the current flows"). This became a centre for thefur trade route fromMontreal to Hudson Bay, roughly located halfway between these two: both about 20 days of canoeing and portaging away.After the fall of New France in 1760, the
North West Company took over the fort and gained a virtual trade monopoly by the 1790s. In 1821, the fort came into the hands of theHudson's Bay Company .In 1864, it became the seat of its district. By the end of the 19th century, lumbermen, missionaries, and settlers succeeded the fur traders and the fort's role as a trading post gradually became obsolete. In 1902, it closed down.Parks Canada, "Fort Témiscamingue National Historic Site" leaflet, ISBN 0-662-66300-4]
National historic site
Declared a national historic site in 1931, the site is notable for its cultural and natural heritage. The park's territory is mainly three distinct natural areas: the plateau, the escarpments and the lowlands. Overall, over 80% of the total area of the park is a wooded area with approximately 20 different stands and a number of plants from the climactic forest type of the Laurentian maple stand and the Upper St. Lawrence forest sub-region.
Of the fort itself not much remained, but a modern visitor's centre, exhibits, and reenactments highlight the cultural history of the place.
References
External links
* [http://www.pc.gc.ca/voyage-travel/pv-vp/itm5-/page15_e.asp Fort Témiscamingue National Historic Site of Canada] at Parks Canada
* [http://www.tourismetemiscamingue.ca/main.cfm?p=02_400&l=en&ContactID=52 Tourisme Temiscamingue]
* [http://www.temiscamingue.net/fort_temiscamingue/ Temiscamingue Portal]
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