Gulf of Saint Lawrence

The Gulf of Saint Lawrence is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. It covers about 259,000 km² (100,000 sq miles) and it extends 400 km (250 miles) from the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River to Newfoundland on the east. Its greatest width, measured from northeast to southwest, is about 800 km (500 miles).

The Gulf of Saint Lawrence is bounded by the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Québec. Islands in the gulf include Prince Edward Island, Anticosti Island and the Magdalen Islands, as well as numerous small islands near its northern shore. Between the Gaspé Peninsula and New Brunswick is an inlet called Chaleur Bay. The Strait of Belle Isle, Cabot Strait and the Strait of Canso all lead to the Atlantic. The Gulf of Saint Lawrence is subject to frequent fog and it is usually closed to navigation by ice from early December to mid-April.

The gulf was first visited by European explorers as early as the 15th century. It has important fishing grounds, especially for cod. The gulf is in the southeast of Canada.