Madeleine-Magdalen Islands (Cap-aux Meules, Quebec Canada)

Magdalen Islands (Iles de la Madeleine) form a small archipelago in Gulf of Saint Lawrence with a total land area approx 206 km2 (79 mi2). Though closer to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, the islands form part of the province of Quebec, Canada. Magdalen Islands are one of all 9 St Lawrence cruise ports of call - together with Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres, Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles, Gaspe, Havre-Saint-Pierre and Montreal.

The islands are census division of Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine, as well as the urban agglomeration with 2 municipalities - Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine (population around 13,000) and Grosse-Ile (population around 500).  Tourism is a primary industry. The scenery features endless white-sand beaches, alongside steadily eroding sandstone cliffs. The Islands are also popular for bicycle camping, windsurfing, kitesurfing, seakayaking. During winter, from mid-February, eco-tourists arrive on the pack-ice for wildlife viewing (harp seal pups in the surrounding Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

Magdalen Islands shelter Canadian Salt Company Seleine Mines, producing road salt for use in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the eastern seaboard of the United States. Opened in 1982, this salt mine and plant is situated in Grosse-Ile and extracts salt from underground mine 30 m (98 feet) below Grande-Entree Lagoon. It produces 1M tons of salt, and employs around 200 people.

CTMA ferries operate the routes between Souris, Prince Edward Island and Cap-aux-Meules, as well as seasonal cruise ferry service between Montreal and the islands. Magdalen Islands Airport (at Havre-aux-Maisons) serves regularly scheduled domestic flights to mainland Quebec and Labrador.