Lac-Mégantic, Quebec

Lac- Mégantic [ ˌ lakmegɑtik ] is a city in the Canadian province of Québec. It is located 140 km south of Quebec City, at the northern end of Lac Mégantic, is its natural expiration of the Rivière Chaudière.

The first white settlers settled around 1850 in the region that was previously inhabited by Abenaki Indians down. The city seen from the villages was founded in 1885 and 1895 Mégantic and Agnès. The two villages were merged in 1907 to the city Mégantic. Their name was changed to its present Lac- Mégantic 1958.

On July 6, 2013, the center of the town was badly damaged, as in a train accident a runaway freight train that had derailed loaded oil products; some tank cars went up in flames and exploded. The confirmed number of deaths was estimated on 19 July 2013, 47.

Economics, Transportation

At the beginning of the place especially important as a railway junction between the east-west route Montreal -Lac - Mégantic - Mattawamkeag - New Brunswick ( 1878 to 1889 by the Canadian Pacific Railway built ) and the south-north route Lac- Mégantic -Québec was ( 1894-1895 built by the Quebec Central Railway ).

The region's economy is based on timber industry, granite mining and tourism. In addition, the city is a regional service center. Although in the 19th century to attract the Quebec and Megantic Land Company tried English settlers, the town is in French today. With the French community Dourdan is twinned since 1989.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Laurier LaPierre (1929-2012), television presenter, author and politician
• Vincent Blais (* 1990), biathlete