Perce Rock, Natural arch in Gaspe Peninsula, Canada.
The limestone formation rises 88 meters above the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, extending 433 meters in length with a width of 90 meters.
French explorer Jacques Cartier documented three natural arches in the rock formation during his 1534 expedition, with two arches later collapsing over time.
The rock formation features in Quebec folklore through tales of Le Génie de l'Isle Percée, a phantom figure said to emerge during storms.
Visitors can reach the rock formation by foot during low tide between May and October, though climbing remains prohibited for conservation purposes.
The limestone mass contains fossils of 150 different species, providing evidence of ancient ecosystems from the Carboniferous period.
Location: Percé
Location: Quebec
Elevation above the sea: 88 m
GPS coordinates: 48.52389,-64.19944
Latest update: May 27, 2025 06:59
This collection of natural formations displays various shapes and structures that developed through geological processes over Earth's history. The landscape provides insight into the geological forces that have sculpted the terrain throughout millions of years, attracting scientists and nature enthusiasts.
Geological forces have carved openings, arches, and caves into rock formations across continents through millions of years of erosion. Water, wind, and weathering have shaped these natural structures from various rock types, creating landmarks that reveal the Earth's ongoing transformation. The formations appear in diverse environments, from coastlines where ocean waves carve passages through limestone cliffs to desert regions where wind erosion creates openings in sandstone walls. This collection spans locations such as Durdle Door along England's Jurassic Coast, where a 200-foot (60-meter) arch rises from layers dating to the Mesozoic era. The Faraglioni Rocks off Capri reach heights of 360 feet (109 meters) and include a natural passage navigable by boat. In landlocked regions, formations like the Eyes of God in Bulgaria's Prohodna Cave display symmetrical ceiling openings where sunlight penetrates the rock. Desert sites such as Las Ventanas in Argentina's Andes showcase wind-carved arches in remote sandstone landscapes. Each location offers direct evidence of erosion processes that continue shaping these geological features, from readily accessible coastal points to isolated areas requiring significant travel to reach.
Forillon National Park
43.3 km
Cross of Gaspé
39.8 km
Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse
37 km
Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park
4.1 km
Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse
71.4 km
Miscou Island Lighthouse
61.3 km
Cap Gaspé Lighthouse
25.4 km
Miscou bridge
76.2 km
Mont Sainte-Anne
2.7 km
Église de L'Assomption-De-Notre-Dame de Grande-Rivière
26.2 km
Percé Geopark
1.3 km
Gaspesie Museum
40.3 km
Cap d'Espoir Lighthouse
14.5 km
Cap-Blanc Lighthouse
2.8 km
Site patrimonial de Percé
1.1 km
Denys Fort / Habitation
77.2 km
Gespeg Micmac interpretation site
46.6 km
Villa Frederick-James
714 m
Église Saint-Phillip
61.1 km
Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock Migratory Bird Sanctuary
4.1 km
Biard house
808 m
Manoir Le Boutillier
46.1 km
Site patrimonial de Port-Daniel
68.6 km
Xavier Blanchette House
29.3 km
Saint-Albert-le-Grand
40.1 km
Hyman House and Store
29.8 km
Xavier Blanchette Storage
29.3 km
Xavier Blanchette Barn
29.3 kmReviews
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A nice boat ride allows for a pleasant discovery of this rock.
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