[3][4] With the motto: Between nature and excess, the Côte-Nord[3] is made up of 99% public land, it is the second largest region after Nord-du-Québec, which occupies 51% of Quebec's territory.

[6][7] From the 14th to the 17th century, known history, the presence of Europeans in the regions of the North Shore and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence began with the periodic visits of the Basques and Breton fishermen.

"... From Kegashka to Blanc-Sablon, the inhabitants are individualistic, dwell on Crown Lands — often as squatters — and keep jealously to their self-appropriated fishing spots, whence their dispersion."

Stretching over nearly 1,250 km and with an area of 196,058 km², the administrative region roughly includes the basins of all the rivers that flow into the St. Lawrence between Tadoussac and Blanc-Sablon.

[1] Important landmarks of Côte-Nord include Anticosti Island, the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, and the Manicouagan Reservoir.

Cetaceans: Seals: The hydrography of the Côte-Nord has always been considered over the centuries as a structuring element, whether for exchanges between indigenous nations, for the beginning of colonization, for logging and transport of wood and, more recently, for the development of hydroelectricity and recreational tourism.

[3][5] Mining, forestry, hydroelectric power, aluminum processing and fishing constitute the main regional economic activities.

These activities are confronted with global markets and natural and human upheavals which affect resources such as fires[23] and insect epidemics.

The rights of way granted on public land to various snowmobile clubs contribute to the development of this form of winter tourism which boosts the local and regional economy.

Caniapiscau — La Haute-Côte-Nord — Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent — Manicouagan — Minganie — Sept-Rivières Essipit — La Romaine — Lac-John — Maliotenam (part of Uashat-Maliotenam) — Matimekosh — Mingan — Nutashkuan — Pessamit — Uashat (part of Uashat-Maliotenam) Between Sept-Îles and Natashquan, people arrive by sea, settle in complete freedom, without fees, depending on the salmon fishing at the mouths of the rivers, the banks of cod offshore, the trapping of fur-bearing animals in some cases and hunting seals other times.

Baie-Comeau — Fermont — Forestville — Havre-Saint-Pierre — Port-Cartier — Sept-Îles The Côte-Nord region was gradually explored by French colonists during the centuries with the help of natives.