A varied geography between the St. Lawrence and the Appalachians

From the foothills of the Appalachians to the St. Lawrence plains, the Centre-du-Quebec region covers 6910 km².

Geographical boundaries

The region extends:

• to the St. Lawrence river to the north.
• to the boundaries of the Montérégie region to the west.
• to the Chaudière-Appalaches region to the east.
• to the border of the Eastern Townships and Chaudière-Appalaches regions to the south.

Hydrography

Bordered to the north by the St. Lawrence River and Lake St. Pierre (UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve), several rivers cross through the region:

• Bécancour River
• Nicolet River
• Saint-François River

Agriculture

The temperate climate and very fertile soil are ideal for agriculture.  With over 238 000 hectares of cultivated land, the region is regarded as the breadbasket of Quebec.  Also known as the cranberry capital, the Centre-du-Quebec region is the province's main producer of cow's milk.

Main crops produced:  Cranberries, corn and soybeans

Main animals raised:  Beef, pork, veal, cattle, goats.

The main migratory staging area for snow geese

The Centre-du-Quebec region is the site of the main migratory staging area for snow geese in the spring.  More than 600 000 geese stop there.  To watch them, visit the Nicolet-Yamaska MRC in the spring and the Bois-Francs area in the fall.  Discover the birds that live in the region, and places of interest from which to observe them.