Miguasha National Park: A Journey into a World of Discovery

Customer service supervisor Paul Lemieux has been a member of the Miguasha National Park team for close to 20 years. The park is surrounded by an enchanting landscape along the Restigouche Estuary in the Chaleur Bay region in Gaspésie. This Gaspé native and historian by profession enthusiastically shares his passion and in-depth knowledge of the site and its magnificent treasures.

The smallest of Québec’s national parks, Miguasha covers an area of less than one square kilometre (about 250 acres) and offers attractions of great interest to visitors. Imagine a warm, tropical climate, a giant estuary and a landscape dominated by ferns. Paul Lemieux explains that “380 million years ago, North America’s continental plate was connected to Europe’s and straddled both sides of the equator.

"Scientists have been able to reconstruct this environment from fossils discovered in the Miguasha cliff. “When we stand in front of the cliff today, it’s as if we were at the bottom of the ancient estuary that existed here so long ago.

“With the 20 species of fish, plants and invertebrates that were discovered in the cliff’s rock formation, we have enough information to determine the type of habitat that existed then.”

Miguasha: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1999, Miguasha National Park was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. “Miguasha is the planet’s most important fossil site for the geological period known as the Late Devonian. No other World Heritage Site has been recognized for this period in the history of evolution because Miguasha is the most representative as a result of its flora, fauna and invertebrate fossils.”

UNESCO’s recognition of the site attests to the quality of the fossils and their abundance while confirming its representativeness of the Late Devonian, which began 410 million years ago and ended 368 million years ago.

The Devonian Period is also referred to as “the Age of Fish because almost all animal life was in the water. Small invertebrates did live on the continent, but they were few in number. Land vertebrates did not exist yet, which means that no animals possessing a spinal column lived on land.”

Fish fossils with a story to tell...
Miguasha’s Natural History Museum exhibits the best fossils of the collection. The objective of the permanent exhibit, called From Water to Land, is to make paleontology (the study of prehistoric life) accessible to the general public.

“Why are the fish from Miguasha so important? Our 20 fish species can be subdivided into five groups, and one of these groups explains the vertebrates’ transition from water to land. Eight members of this group are evolved fish. They had a double respiratory system (lungs and gills), a highly developed spinal column and bony structures in their paired fins (pectoral and pelvic). Over the span of millions of years, these bony structures developed into legs. This group of fish in Miguasha therefore explains a huge evolutionary step, that is, vertebrates’ exit from water.

"Most of the exhibit is dedicated to science, but it has a historic component as well because human history is intricately linked to the cliff. All of the research and knowledge that stemmed from the study of the Miguasha specimens was performed by scientists who, shortly after 1879, began coming out here on digs. The exhibit showcases the various stages of the research and the main contributors who ensured that the history of Miguasha would be told over the years.”

Science for the whole family
The scientific content of the exhibit is explained in very clear terms by an educational team that offers guided tours.

“In 1978, when the first museum opened its doors, the team made an important decision: that people would talk about paleontology and the Miguasha fossils. This tradition has continued, and the museum tells a fascinating story. When the educational team develops a new module, for instance, it always puts itself in the visitors’ shoes to determine the best way to describe a specimen so that everyone can appreciate it.

“Our clientele consists primarily of tourists and families. In a group of adults and children, we ask our guides to talk to the children, to explain the content as clearly as possible, and to refrain from using terms that are too scientific or, if there is a scientific term, to explain it in a way that everyone can understand. We really want visitors to discover why the Miguasha site is world-renowned and how it has helped us to understand a page in the history of evolution.

"Part of the tradition also involves a trip to the cliffs where the magnificent specimens on exhibit come from. We provide a geological tour that explains the rock formation.”

A warm welcome and an exciting visit
“This site is exceptional and unique. Miguasha teaches us about the evolution of life on Earth. We are the product of evolution. Miguasha has allowed us to learn about the important evolutionary transition of vertebrates from water to land to become amphibians, which later became reptiles, then mammals, primates and hominids, which we represent today.

“In Miguasha, we offer activities and services that draw on the intelligence of our visitors. With our educational program, they become familiar with evolution and fossils, and more aware of the importance of protecting Québec’s habitats and territories. Our customer service department is certified by Quality Tourisme Gaspésie as a result of the excellent service we provide. As a customer service supervisor, the most rewarding thing for me is seeing the fascination of both adults and children who leave here with a smile on their face.”