While gold is still mined in the area today, base metals, such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) have become increasingly important resources.

The ore is usually found in volcanic rocks that were deposited on the sea floor over 2.7 billion years ago.

Some other attractions include the City of Gold and the mining village of Bourlamaque, which were officially proclaimed historic sites in 1979.

The local hockey team, the Val-d'Or Foreurs, have played in the QMJHL since 1993, winning the league championship in 1998, 2001 and 2014 to claim a spot in the Memorial Cup.

[2] The Radio-Canada investigative television program, Enquête, revealed in October 2015 numerous allegations of assault and sexual abuse of local aboriginal women by members of the provincial police, the Sûreté du Québec.

[9] The news propelled the town into the national spotlight, causing Québec's Public Safety Minister, Lise Thériault, to suspend the officers and launch an independent investigation led by the Montréal police force.

Although its name refers to a valley ("Val"), the city is actually situated on a vast, slightly undulating plain.

[12] Snowfall totals are heavy, averaging 288 centimetres (113 in) with reliable snow cover from November to April.