St. Lawrence River

St. Lawrence River

Sometimes serene and gentle, sometimes ferocious and dangerous, the St. Lawrence is one of the world's great rivers. It was a crucial artery for westward migration, commercial goods, and troop movements during several wars. It nourished a large French-speaking population in Quebec and served as a partial barrier between the U.S. and Canada who fought several wars for control of this vast northern region. Here pictured is a view of Lac St-Francois, a river lake, looking as it might have hundreds of years ago to native populations before the arrival of Europeans. The river also spawned fascinating and unique evolutions in boats and shipping as white settlers attempted to tame the river for their own purposes.