Mingan Harbor (50°17'N., 64°01'W.), Mingan Harbor lies between Ile du Havre de Mingan and the low sandy shore of the mainland. The mainland recedes at the E end of the harbor at the mouth of the Mingan River, with extensive drying flats lying about 0.8 mile from the river mouth. The E entrance to the harbor, between these flats and Ile du Havre de Mingan, is restricted to a width of about 0.2 mile. The W entrance is about 0.2 mile wide. Both entrances are fairly deep.

Coastal vessels call at Mingan Harbor during the navigation season (early May to December). There is also air and telegraph service.

Mingan village is situated on the mainland, about 0.5 mile NE of the sandy point on the N side of the W entrance to the harbor.

Tides—Currents.—Springs rise 2.3m; neaps rise 1.5m. In the harbor, especially through the narrow W entrance, the ebb current sets strongly to the E and attains a velocity of 2 knots with W winds.

Depths—Limitations.—The approach channels between the islands are wide and deep. The E entrance channel has depths of 12.5 to 45.7m; the W entrance channel has depths of 11.3 to 34.8m.

The harbor, between Ile du Havre de Mingan and the mainland to the N, has depths of 7.3 to 20.1m.

Foul ground extends about 0.3 mile from the W end of Ile du Havre de Mingan, and shoal water, with depths of 8.5 to 9.8m, extends about 0.8 mile E from the E end of the island. Shoal water and foul ground extend off the entire length of the S side of the island.

Wacouta Rock (50°17'N., 64°00'W.), with a depth of 2.7m, lies on the N side of Mingan Channel, about 0.8 miles SW of the E end of Ile du Havre Mingan. Another rock, with a depth of 5.5m, lies about 0.4 mile farther SW.

There is a T-shaped wharf at Mingan, with a length of 62m at its face. The depth alongside varies from 4.6m at the W end to 9.4m at the E end. A warehouse is situated close to the pier.

Aspect.—Ile du Havre de Mingan, close to the mainland and on the N side of Mingan Channel, lies about 1.8 miles N of Ile aux Bouleaux. The island forms the S side of Mingan Harbor, and is about 31m high, wooded, and precipitous.

A church spire and the buildings of the Hudson Bay Company are good landmarks for Mingan Harbor.

Range lights for the E entrance to Mingan Harbor are shown, in line bearing 288°, on the mainland near the W end of the village. The least depth on this range line is 12.5m.

Range lights for the W entrance to the harbor are shown, in line bearing 066°, on the mainland E of the village. The least depth on this range line is 6.4m.

A lighted buoy, equipped with a radar reflector, marking the N side of the E entrance to Mingan Harbor, is moored on the S edge of the shoal water off the mouth of the Mingan River, about 1.5 miles ESE of the church spire at the village.

Anchorage.—The anchorage space within Mingan Harbor is about 1 mile long and 0.25 mile wide, with depths of 13 to 22m over fine sand. The anchorage area is sheltered.

Directions.—A vessel approaching the harbor from the E from a position on the coastal track, about 5 miles SSW of the S extremity of La Grande Ile, may steer a course of 355° for about 10 miles to a position about 1 mile E of Ile du Havre de Mingan; the E approach range is then intersected and the vessel should proceed through the E entrance on the 288° range to the middle of the harbor.

A vessel approaching from the W, from a position about 3.25 miles SSW of the Riviere St. Jean, may steer a course of 090° for about 7 miles to a position about 0.8 mile N of the Iles aux Perroquet; the W entrance range is then intersected and may be steered on 066° through the W entrance to the middle of the harbor.

Location