Welcome to this quiz on Quebec’s natural resources

Question 1: Can you name four natural resources in Quebec in the early 20th century? Good answer! There were mines where several valuable minerals such as copper, iron or asbestos could be found. These extracted metals were either exported abroad or processed in factories to manufacture all sorts of things. In 1905, iron in Quebec was used to manufacture plough shares, among other things.

You also mentioned the forests containing deciduous and especially coniferous trees. These trees were used in construction or processed to make paper. Speaking of which, did you know that in 1905, Quebec lumber was exported as far away as England? And let’s not also forget that some regions like Lac Saint-Jean owe much of their colonization to the timber industry.

See French video:  Les ressources naturelles at http://primaire.recitus.qc.ca/sujets/10/agriculture-commerce-et-industrie/3791

Third, you mentioned the land. Although Quebec’s fertile lands were generally limited to the St. Lawrence Valley, and the harsh climate did not allow for all types of farming, land was indeed a valuable resource. People were able to diversify their crops and chose plants that grew well in our regions, despite the sometimes difficult conditions.

And lastly, you mentioned water. With its many lakes and rivers, Quebec was indeed very rich in this natural resource. Its waters were also rich in fish, but it was especially the power of this water that made it such a valuable resource. The construction of dams on these rivers harnessed the water’s energy to generate electricity. This electricity attracted several energy-intensive industries like aluminum production and pulp and paper.

Author: Service national du Récit de l’univers social

See also – Traces of the past:

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