PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Physically and geologically, Quebec is divided into three parts. Almost all the vast region to the north of the Saint Lawrence is a portion of the so-called Laurentian Plateau, which belongs to the most ancient geological era (ArchMan). This is a barren, rocky, undulating region. the hills oft times standing out in great boldness, but nowhere reaching a high elevation. The highest portion —the Height of Land—constituting the water shed between the river systems. scarcely exceeds 1000 feet in the west. but becomes gradually higher to the eastward, averaging 1700 feet in the centre of the Labrador peninsula. The sec ond division consists of the narrow strip of lowlands on either side of the Saint Lawrence west of Quebec. Here the general level rises but a few hundred feet above that of the sea. except where the later strata are pierced by rocks of igneous formation, which in a few instances rise quite high, Mount Royal at Montreal being the best known of these. To the eastward of these lowlands the strata have been violently up heaved. the line of dislocation running from Lake Champlain to Quebec. and thence following the estuary of the Saint Lawrence. the disturbed area occupying the greater portion of Quebec south of the Saint Lawrence, and constituting the third division. It is a part of the so-called Acadian region. This is simply the northern
extremity of the great Appalachian mountain chain. This portion of Quebec is broken and hilly thronehout. rising nearly 4000 feet in Sut ton Mountain, in the Notre Dame range.
The greater portion of the province is drained by the Saint Lawrence River system. This river has been the all-important factor in the history and development of the province. The numerous southern tributaries are short, the northern tributaries longer, but, owing to the frequent falls and rapids along their courses, they are of little value to navigation. These features, to gether with the precipitous channels through which the streams flow, and the ruggedness of the adjacent highlands, combine to produce grand scenery which annually attracts thousands of tourists, the Saguenay River being the most frequented. The most important southern trib utary is the Richelieu. It drains Lake Cham plain. The region north of the Saint Lawrence has numerous water-covered areas which vary from swampy lands to lakes of considerable size—the Saint John and the Mistassini being the most important. The island of Anticosti, at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence, and the Mag dalen group, north of Prince Edward Island, are the most important of the large number of islands which belong to the province.