Gaspésie

Gaspé Peninsula
Region
NASA satellite image of the Gaspé Peninsula. Part of Anticosti Island appears to the northeast.
Gaspé Peninsula Show map of Quebec Gaspé Peninsula Show map of Canada
Coordinates: 48°39′29″N 65°45′10″W / 48.65806°N 65.75278°W / 48.65806; -65.75278Coordinates: 48°39′29″N 65°45′10″W / 48.65806°N 65.75278°W / 48.65806; -65.75278
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Area
• Land	31,075.36 km2 (11,998.26 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	140,599
• Density	4.5/km2 (12/sq mi)

The Gaspésie (official name), or Gaspé Peninsula, the Gaspé or Gaspesia, is a peninsula along the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River to the east of the Matapédia Valley in Quebec, Canada, that extends into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It is separated from New Brunswick on its southern side by the Baie des Chaleurs (Chaleur Bay) and the Restigouche River.

The origin of the name "Gaspé" comes from the Mi'kmaq word gespe'g, meaning "end", referring to the end of the land. A Basque linguist has instead suggested "Gaspé" comes from a mutation of the Basque word "geizpe", meaning "shelter", but this view is disputed.

The Gaspé Peninsula is slightly larger than Belgium, at 31,075 square kilometres (11,998 sq mi). The population is 140,599 as of the 2011 census. It is also noted as being the only region outside of the channel islands to contain native speakers of Norman Jersey.

Sea cliffs dominate the peninsula's northern shore along the St. Lawrence River.Cap Gaspé, jutting into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is the easternmost point of the peninsula. Percé Rock (or Rocher Percé), an island pierced by a natural arch, is located just offshore of the peninsula's eastern end. The peninsula's interior is a rugged northward continuation of the Appalachian Mountains called the Chic-Chocs, with Mont Jacques-Cartier at 1,268 metres (4,160 ft) the peninisula's highest peak.