Ironically, the Island of Montreal is not named after its most famous export Montreal smoked meat. This island is where much of the city of Montreal sits.
Welcome to the Island of Montreal. It is the most populous island in Canada. The Island of Montreal is at the meeting point of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. This makes it the main island of the Hochelaga Archipelago.
Originally, the French called it l’ille de Vilmenon. Samuel de Champlain noted this on a map in 1616. The name came from sieur de Vilmenon. He supported the founders of Quebec. By 1632, Champlain’s map showed Isle de Mont-real. The island got its name from Mount Royal. Over time, the name spread to the town of Ville-Marie.
The Kanien’kehá call it Tiohtià:ke tsi ionhwéntsare. This means “broken in two”. It refers to the Lachine Rapids southwest of the island. Others call it Otsirà:ke meaning “on the fire”. The Anishninaabemowin people call the land Mooniyaang. It marks the first stop in their migration to the Great Lakes.
The Island of Montreal stretches about 50 km long. It measures 16 km wide at its widest point. The island boasts a shoreline of 266 km. It ranks as the second largest island in the Saint Lawrence River. Anticosti Island is the largest. The Island of Montreal is the largest in the Hochelaga Archipelago. The Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers meet here.
Near the western end, the Ottawa River expands. It forms Lac des Deux-Montagnes. The Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal improves the natural waterway. This canal runs between the island and Île Perrot. These waterways link Lac des Deux-Montagnes to Lake Saint-Louis. This is where the Ottawa flows into the St. Lawrence.
The Rivières des Prairies flows north of the island’s west end. It remains part of the Ottawa River. The Prairies separates the island. It splits it from Île Bizard and Île Jésus. After about 55 km, the Prairie joins the St. Lawrence. This happens at the island’s northeastern tip.
The island’s St. Lawrence coast presents a changing waterway. The St. Lawrence River widens. It becomes Lake Saint-Louis. This is near the island’s approach. Around a southern point, the river narrows. The Lachine Rapids form. Then, it widens into the Bassin de La Prairie. It narrows again at Montreal’s Cite Du Havre. Finally, it flows to Quebec City and the Atlantic. The Lachine Canal bypasses this complex river section.
The island’s landscape shows significant changes from human activity. Historical maps show a lake called St. Pierre. This lake and other waterways have been drained. Areas on the shores have been reclaimed. The Lachine Canal separates the southwest of the island. It runs between Lachine and Montreal’s Old Port.
The island mostly sits on Chazy limestone. Some areas have Utica shale. Mount Royal rises at the island’s center. Its three peaks form a volcanic intrusion.
The Island of Montreal forms a major part of the city of Montreal. Île Bizard, Saint Helen’s Island, Notre Dame Island and Nuns’ Island also form part of it. With over two million people, it is Canada’s most populous island. Montreal and other municipalities on the island form the administrative region of Montreal.
Several busy bridges connect the island. The Champlain Bridge and the Jacques Cartier Bridge handle over 100 million vehicles each year.
The city government has a rule. No building can be taller than Mount Royal. The mountain’s height is 233 meters.