Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a special part of France located in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. It is close to the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. This group of eight islands is called an archipelago and covers an area of 242 square kilometers. In 2026, about 5,513 people lived there, and they are all French citizens.

The people of Saint Pierre and Miquelon have their own government but are still part of France. They choose a representative to join the National Assembly in France and take part in important country-wide votes. Even though it is far from mainland France, the people use the euro as their money and are part of the European Union in some ways.

The islands sit in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, near a place called Fortune Bay. They are very close to the coast of Newfoundland, only about 19 kilometers from a point called Point May. The nearest big city in France, Brest, is much farther away—over 3,800 kilometers.

Etymology

Saint-Pierre is the French name for Saint Peter, who is known as the special protector or helper of fishermen.

The name Miquelon first appeared in old writings from 1579 by a sailor named Martin de Hoyarçabal. Back then, it was written as Micquetô, Miqueton, or Micquellon. Some people think Miquelon comes from the Basque word for Michael, which is Mikel. Over time, the spelling changed when it was written in French.

The Basque Country is split between Spain and France. Because of this, the name Miquelon might also have been affected by the Spanish name Miguelón, which means "big Michael." The nearby island called Langlade is thought to come from the phrase "l'île à l'Anglais," meaning "Englishman's Island."

History

Main article: History of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Archaeological evidence shows that indigenous peoples of Canada, such as the Beothuk, visited Saint Pierre and Miquelon, though they did not settle there permanently. In 1520, the Portuguese explorer João Álvares Fagundes landed on the islands and named them the "Eleven Thousand Virgins", as it was the feast day of Saint Ursula and her companions. In 1536, the French explorer Jacques Cartier claimed the islands for France.

The islands were not permanently settled until the late 1600s. In 1670, during Jean Talon's time as Intendant of New France, a French officer named the islands Saint Pierre and Miquelon after finding French fishermen there. During wars between France and Britain, the islands changed hands many times. After each war, they were often returned to France, though settlements were sometimes destroyed in the process.

In the early 1900s, the islands faced hard times as fishing became less profitable, and many people left to live in Nova Scotia and Quebec. World War I took many young men away from the islands, hurting the fishing industry. During World War II, the islands were taken from Vichy France by Free French Forces, and the local population supported this change.

In 1946, the islands became a French overseas territory. Later, they chose to remain a territory rather than join France fully. In 1976, they became an overseas department, and in 1985, they became a territorial collectivity, no longer part of the European Communities.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a special overseas area of France. It has two main towns: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon-Langlade. People there are French citizens and can vote. They send a senator and a deputy to the National Assembly of France in Paris. France chooses a leader called the prefect to represent the government there.

The local group that makes rules is called the Territorial Council. It has 19 members who help decide things for the islands.

Defence and gendarmerie

France takes care of protecting the islands. The French Navy uses a ship for watching the waters around the islands. Law enforcement in Saint Pierre and Miquelon is handled by a part of the French Gendarmerie Nationale; there are two police stations on the islands.

Maritime boundary case

Main article: Canada–France Maritime Boundary Case

France wanted a big area of water around Saint Pierre and Miquelon for fishing and possible oil. In 1992, after talking with Canada, they agreed on a smaller area for the islands to use. This settled a long disagreement between the two countries about their borders at sea, but some areas were still not fully decided.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a group of eight islands located near Newfoundland and Labrador. These islands cover an area of 242 square kilometres and are rocky with steep coasts. Only two of the islands are lived on by people.

The largest island, called Miquelon-Langlade, is actually made up of two islands joined by a sandy strip. The highest point in the area is Morne de la Grande Montagne, which stands at 240 meters tall. The main island, Saint Pierre, is smaller but has the most people and serves as the center for business and government. It also has an airport that has been operating since 1999.

The islands are home to many seabirds and seals, and whales can often be seen in the surrounding waters during the spring. The landscape is mostly barren, with only small shrubs growing due to the thin soil. The climate here is cold and influenced by nearby ocean currents, leading to frequent fog and changing weather patterns.

Economy

The economy of Saint Pierre and Miquelon has mainly relied on fishing and helping fishing boats from Newfoundland. However, it has been facing challenges because of disagreements with Canada about fishing limits and fewer ships stopping at the islands. In 1992, a decision gave the islands a special area of water for fishing, but it was smaller than France wanted. The islands receive money from France, which helps people live better. The government hopes that more visitors will come as tourists and that exploring for oil might help create new jobs.

Because of the weather and poor soil, growing crops or raising animals is very hard. The economy has struggled since fish supplies decreased due to too much fishing and limits set by Canada. Unemployment has changed over the years, with rates going down recently. Many supplies are brought in from Canada or France through Nova Scotia. Efforts are being made to create new jobs in areas like fish farming, crab fishing, and growing food. The future of the islands depends on tourism, fishing, and aquaculture. Explorations are happening to find oil and gas. Tourism is growing, with the islands promoting their French culture and cuisine. There are hotels, guest houses, and rental homes, along with restaurants offering French and other foods.

The euro has been the money used in Saint Pierre and Miquelon since 1999. Before that, different types of money were used, including Mexican coins and Canadian dollars. Most shops also accept Canadian dollars.

The islands have made their own stamps since 1885, except for a few years when they used regular French stamps.

Demographics

In March 2022, the islands had a population of 5,819 people. Most lived in Saint-Pierre, with a smaller group in Miquelon-Langlade. Many people on the islands were born there, but some came from France. Fewer than 1% were from other countries.

Young adults often leave the islands for school and do not always return. The islands have always had slow population growth because they are far away, have tough weather, and the land is not easy to grow food on.

The first people to visit the islands were Indigenous Americans who came for fishing and hunting. Today, the people come from many places, including France, Canada, and other French-speaking areas.

People on the islands speak French, and their way of life is much like that in France. The French they speak is a bit different from the French in Canada. A language called Basque used to be spoken here but is no longer used.

The majority of people on the islands are Christian, mostly Catholic.

Culture

Every summer, there is a Basque Festival with fun activities like stone heaving, lumberjack skills, and a game called Basque pelota, which is also known as frontón or jai alai in the Americas. The local food is mostly seafood, including lobster, snow crab, mussels, and especially cod.

People on the islands usually don’t use street names. Instead, they give directions using nicknames or the names of nearby residents.

Sports

Ice hockey is very popular in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and local teams often play in leagues based in Newfoundland. Some players from the islands have joined French and Canadian teams and have played for the France men's national ice hockey team. In 2008, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon played an exhibition match against the French national team. The territory also has its own football league with three teams, and starting in 2018, local clubs have taken part in France’s Coupe de France tournament. The islands have a national football team, but it is not currently a member of FIFA or CONCACAF.

Transportation

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon has 114 km (71 mi) of highways and 45 km (28 mi) of unpaved roads. The main harbour is in Saint-Pierre, with a smaller one in Miquelon. There are two airports: Saint-Pierre Airport with a runway 1,800 metres long, and Miquelon Airport with a runway 1,000 metres long. Ferries connect the islands to each other and to Fortune in Newfoundland, Canada, about 45 km away. These trips take about 90 minutes. There are no railways on the islands.

Ferry services link Saint Pierre with Miquelon and Langlade, and both towns with Fortune in Canada. In summer, extra ferries run between St Pierre and Langlade, and between Miquelon and Fortune. The ferries can carry up to 188 passengers and 18 vehicles. Smaller ferries also serve local routes. Several cruise ships visit Saint-Pierre each year.

There are two airports: Saint-Pierre Pointe-Blanche Airport and Miquelon Airport. Air Saint-Pierre operates flights connecting these airports and also flies to Montreal, Halifax, St. John's, and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Canada, and to Paris in France during the summer. Most trips to France need a stop in Montreal, but summer flights go directly to Paris.

In the past, cars on the islands used French-style license plates. Now, more cars have North American plates, especially since the new car ferry to Canada started in 2021. The islands use their own system for license plates, which began in 1952. Road signs are in French and follow European styles.

Communications

Saint Pierre and Miquelon has four radio stations that all use the FM band. Three of these are on the main island of Saint-Pierre, and one is on Miquelon. At night, they play programs from France Inter or France Info. There is also one television station called Saint Pierre and Miquelon La Première.

The islands are connected to North America and Europe through satellite for phone and TV service. SPM Telecom is the main internet provider, and it also offers mobile phone service. People who enjoy amateur radio often visit the islands to make special contacts.

News

SPM Telecom shares local news online through its Cheznoo website. There is also a magazine called "Mathurin". The television channel Saint Pierre and Miquelon La Première shows a news program called "Le Journal" every evening at 8pm.

Education

The islands have four primary schools, one middle school, one state high school, and one vocational high school. Students who want to study after high school can get scholarships to study in other countries. Most go to France, but some go to Canada, mainly to New Brunswick or Quebec.

Saint-Pierre has had a branch of Memorial University of Newfoundland, called the Frecker Institute, since 1973. Today, this is known as the Frecker Program and is still run by Memorial University. It is held in the building of the Institut de langue française, which is the only French-language institute offering university-level teaching on the island.

Health

Saint Pierre and Miquelon has a public and free health care system. In 1994, an agreement was made so that people from the islands could get treatment in St. John's. In 2015, they began looking for a new health care provider because costs at Eastern Health in Newfoundland had become too high. Possible new locations included Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick. Since 1985, Hôpital François Dunan has offered basic and emergency care for the residents. The first hospital on the islands opened in 1904 and became a civilian hospital in 1905. Another hospital, L'Hôpital-Hospice-Orphelinat, opened in 1937. For special children's health needs, people travel to the Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John's.

Fire services

Saint Pierre and Miquelon has fire stations at both of its airports. The fire service in St Pierre, called Service incendie Ville de St Pierre, has five vehicles including two pumpers, aerial ladders, and a hazmat unit. The fire service in Miquelon, called Service incendie Miquelon, has four vehicles including aerial ladders, a hazmat unit, and two pumpers.

Most of these vehicles are second-hand units from North America, but St Pierre got an aerial ladder from France in 2016.

Notable people

See also: Category:Saint Pierre and Miquelon people

Saint Pierre and Miquelon has been home to many interesting people over the years. Some have served in important government roles, like Henry Hughes Hough, a high-ranking officer in the United States Navy, and several politicians such as George Alain Frecker and Victor Reux. Others have made their mark in the arts and literature, including composer Paula Nenette Pepin and writer Eugène Nicole.

The islands have also produced athletes, such as former ice hockey player Patrick Foliot and mixed martial artist Denis Kang. Many of these individuals have gone on to achieve success in their fields far beyond the small archipelago.