Percé Rock in Quebec is one of the world's largest natural arches and has over 150 fossils
Found in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and on the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, Percé Rock is one of the world’s largest natural arches located in water and is named after the pierced hole in its structure.
This massive limestone island-peninsula, which was once attached to the shoreline, measures at 1,421 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 289 feet high at its highest point.
Percé Rock and the nearby Bonaventure Island together form Percé Rock National Park, which was founded in 1985 and extends over two kilometres of the coastline.
The rock formation has about 150 fossils dating back to 400 million years and is also the second largest bird sanctuary in the world with over 110,000 nesting birds.
Also, from May to December, different species of whales, including blue, humpback, fin and minke, can be seen along the coast.
You can walk right up to the rock during low tide, which happens for four hours each day. Just mind the slippery ocean floor.
It can also be dangerous to venture too close to the rock during low tide due to its tendency to collapse. About 300 tonnes are lost each year and could even possibly disappear in about 16,00o years as a result.
You can also view the attraction clearly from the shore and the pier. Or take a guided boat tour where you'll circle the massive formation and learn some interesting facts about the flora and fauna, geology and fossils on the rock.
Percé Rock is about an hour and 15-minute boat ride from the nearby town of Percé and tours run from May to October.
There's also the Percé UNESCO Global Geopark where you can admire a view of Percé from a glass platform suspended 660 feet above the ground.
No matter how you choose to experience the rock, its massive heights and intriguing geological history will not disappoint.
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