L'ÃŽle-aux-Marins

The Ile aux Marins (German island of sailors ) is east of Saint- Pierre Located in the Atlantic Ocean, uninhabited island that belongs to the archipelago of Saint -Pierre- et- Miquelon and thus France. It is just one kilometer from Saint- Pierre. Until 1931, the island of Ile- aux- Chiens was called (German Isle of Dogs ).

The island is about 1500 meters long and between 100 and 400 meters wide. The highest elevation, Cape Beaudry, is 35 meters high.

Because Saint -Pierre was already settled around 3000 BC by the Inuit, the Ile aux Marins has also been discovered already in the early history. Île aux Marins was first settled in 1604 and is since 1964, when the last inhabitants left the island uninhabited. The highest population in the history of the island was about 600, the main industry was the cod fishery. There was no electricity on the island.

On November 18, 1929, the island was taken by the Grand Banks tsunami, which flooded parts of the flat island, with some houses were swept away. There were no injuries.

Until the year 1945 consisted Saint -Pierre- et- Miquelon from three municipalities, of which the Ile aux Marins formed its own community. 1945, the community was incorporated to Saint- Pierre, so that the island since then belongs to this.

Some fishermen renovated their houses and the church built in 1874 in the 80's, also a museum was set up in the former school. On the island, some houses inhabited again in the summer months. The island has become a popular destination for tourists.