Ever wondered about the story behind a tiny island? Welcome to \u00cele Tourte Blanche. This small island is part of the Hochelaga Archipelago. These islands lie at the meeting point of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa rivers.
The Hochelaga Archipelago is also known as the Montreal Islands. It is a group of 234 islands. This area sits in the southwestern part of Quebec. Jacques Cartier discovered this archipelago in 1535.
Estimates of the number of islands vary. Most believe there are 234 islands. Some say the number is as high as 325.
The largest island is the Island of Montreal. Most of the city of Montreal sits on this island. The city has control over 74 smaller islands. Nuns’ Island is one of these. It is also known as \u00cele des S\u0153urs. \u00cele Bizard is another.
Two islands served as the site of Expo 67. These are Saint Helen’s Island and the artificial \u00cele Notre-Dame. The second-largest island is \u00cele J\u00e9sus. It forms the city of Laval with the \u00celes Laval and other small islands.
Other islands include the \u00celes de Boucherville. They feature a Qu\u00e9bec National Park. \u00cele Perrot is another island. So are Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and Grande-\u00cele. Dorval Island and Dowker Island are also part of the archipelago.
\u00cele Tourte Blanche is one of the many named islands. Others include \u00cele aux Tourtes. The Hochelaga Archipelago gets its name from Hochelaga. This was an Iroquoian settlement on the Island of Montreal. The French later settled here. It grew into the modern city of Montreal.
So, as you stand here on or near \u00cele Tourte Blanche remember its place within this fascinating group of islands. Each island has its own story. Together, they form an important part of Montreal’s history and geography.