Miquelon Island

Miquelon
Native name: Île Miquelon
	Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Area	110 km2 (42 sq mi)
Highest point	Morne de la Grande Montagne (240 m (790 ft))
Administration
	France
Overseas collectivity	Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Largest Commune	Miquelon-Langlade
Demographics
Demonym	Miquelonnais
Population	626 (2012)
Languages	French
Additional information
Official website	http://www.miquelon-langlade.com

Miquelon (

Langlade Island (also called Petite Miquelon) to the south.^[2]

Toponymy

The name Miquelon purportedly derived from a Basque nickname for "Michael" (Mikel). In 1579, the names Micquetõ and Micquelle appeared for the first time in French Basque mariner Martin de Hoyarçabal's maritime pilot. The name evolved over time into Miclon, Micklon, and finally Miquelon (Mikelune in Basque).^[1]^[3]

Geography

Miquelon's coastline includes numerous sand and pebble beaches enclosing lagoons, as well as high rocky cliffs standing up to 25 m (82 ft) on the east coast. Its geology consists of slightly metamorphosed post-

seals and other wildlife. Miquelon is also a well known destination for bird watching.^[2]

Miquelon is connected to Le Cap by a

Langlade Island by a sandy isthmus that formed in the 18th century that is 12 km (7.5 mi) long and 6 to 100 m (20 to 328 ft) wide.^[1]

The island of Saint Pierre Island is across a treacherous and foggy 6 km (3.7 mi) strait that fishermen named "The Mouth of Hell" (French: La Gueule de L'Enfer) that has been the site of more than 600 shipwrecks.^[1]^[4]

Climate

The climate is typical of the North Atlantic and the Labrador Current, with frequent storms and winds that exceed 60 km/h (37 mph) for nearly six months of the year. The summers are cool and foggy. The average annual temperature is 5.5 °C (41.9 °F).^[2]

Population

Miquelon includes the commune of Miquelon-Langlade, with a population of 626 in 2012. Miquelon Airport serves the population via turboprop or small jet aircraft. The majority of the residents live in the town also called Miquelon, located in the north of the island near La Cap. The residents are known as Miquelonnais and are citizens of France.^[5]