Montmorency Falls, Waterfall in Boischatel, Quebec, Canada
Montmorency Falls is a waterfall in Boischatel, just outside Quebec City, where the Montmorency River drops 272 feet (83 m) over a cliff into the Saint Lawrence River. A suspension bridge crosses the top, and staircases cut into the rock face link several viewpoints from the base up to the higher ground.
The site had an indigenous name before French settlers renamed it after the Duke of Montmorency in the early 17th century. Over the following centuries, the falls became known beyond the region as travelers wrote about them and artists painted them for audiences in Europe.
Samuel de Champlain named the falls in honour of Charles de Montmorency-Damville, admiral of France, who died in 1612; Champlain dedicated his 1603 expedition report to him. A legend tells of Mathilde, the White Lady, who threw herself from the crest in 1759 after finding her fiancé Louis dead in battle; residents claim to see her white form in summer and autumn.
The top is reachable by cable car, staircase, or a path from the upper parking area leading to the suspension bridge. Anyone walking near the base should carry a waterproof layer, since the spray can drench clothing within minutes.
Every winter, water freezing along the cliff builds up a large ice cone that locals call the Sugar Loaf. When the formation is solid enough, ice climbers use it as a natural surface, turning the site into a very different place from what summer visitors see.
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