Charlevoix Impact, Quebec
Steven Dutch, Professor Emeritus, Natural and Applied Sciences, Universityof Wisconsin - Green Bay
 |
Location map of Quebec City and the Charlevoix Impact Structure. Canadian planimetric map data 1999. Government of Canada with permission from NaturalResources Canada. US planimetric data: USGS. |
 |
The Charlevoix Structure is rimmed by a circumferential valley and has a central uplift. The impact happened during the Devonian and the present topography is due to differential erosion. |
 |
The Laurentide Highlands
 |
The drive along the St, Lawrence offers fine views of the Laurentian Highlands. This is one of the more rugged parts of the Canadian Shield with elevations over 1000 meters (3300 feet). |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Baie St. Paul
 |
Approaching the circumferential valley. The highway drops about 400 meters. |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
Baie St. Paul from the southwest. This is a nice drive even if you have no interest whatsoever in impacts. |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
Looking north along the circumferential valley. |
 |
 |
 |
Looking southwest across the circumferential valley. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The town of Baie St. Paul from the northeast. |
Inside The Charlevoix Structure
 |
Upturned and contorted Ordovician limestone along the circumferential valley just northeast of Baie St. Paul. |
 |
Contorted Ordovician limestone along the circumferential valley
just northeast of Baie St. Paul. Since most of the structure contains shocked crystalline rocks, outcrop-scale evidence of impact is not very obvious. |
 |
Views of the St. Lawrence |
 |
 |
 |
The central uplift of the structure. |
 |
The highest elevations in the central uplift are over 600 meters (2000 feet). |
 |
Return to Historic Sites Index
Return to Virtual FieldTrips Index
Return to Professor Dutch's Home Page
Created 7 April 2003, Last Update 06 June 2020