The St. Lawrence River is known for its rich waters and high production of phytoplankton, the basis of the food chain. This high primary productivity is due to an oceanographic phenomenon that occurs at the head of the Laurentian Channel. Deep waters are driven against the current from the Atlantic to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Gasp\u00e9, and are pushed up to the surface by the Gasp\u00e9 Current.<\/p>\n
Known as “upwelling”, this phenomenon is characterized by deep, cold waters being drawn up to the surface. These waters, often rich in decomposed organic matter, act as fertilizer for phytoplankton (microscopic algae). Thanks to the sunlight accessible at the surface and this nutrient intake, this phytoplankton then serves as a first link that will transform the surface waters into a giant smorgasbord for marine wildlife: zooplankton, fish, seabirds, seals, whales, etc.<\/p>\n