FP/KV1J – Miquelon

From July 2, 2024, Eric, FP/KV1J will again operate from Miquelon (IOTA NA-032).
He will operate 80 – 6m SSB, RTTY, CW, FT8 and FM satellite.
Nearest DX Point FP/KV1J
He will also participate in some competitions.
QSL by home call, LOTW.
Direct QSL advertising:
Eric A. Williams, 763 PLEASANT ST, Marlborough, MA 01752, USA.

Miquelon is a beautiful town in France

As the last symbol of the new French colonial empire, the islands of Miquelon and Saint-Pierre are located in the deep blue territory of French territory, in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, close to the Canadian region. This area has profound historical and strategic significance, and countries around the world have named their names after it. These small islands are basically located at the entrance of the famous Fortune Bay, which extends to the south of Newfoundland, close to the Grand Banks. They are 3819 kilometers away from Brest. Interestingly, they are stationed only 24 kilometers from the Burin Peninsula.

Geography

This group of small islands in the northern Atlantic Ocean consists of 8 small islands with a total inhabited area of ​​more than 93 square miles. The islands are generally considered to be rocky and exposed, with steep coasts and you can only find a thin layer of peat, which gives some softness. We should emphasize that the island of Saint-Pierre, despite its small size, is densely populated and is also considered the main administrative region of this group of islands.

As we move towards Miquelon, it is considered the largest of the small islands and is basically connected to Langlade Island.

Climate

This small island has a humid continental climate. The influence of polar matter and the colder Labrador Current is quite significant. The average temperature is mainly 5.3 degrees Celsius. The area has abundant precipitation, and snow and rain are also common phenomena in the area. The climatic conditions are good enough for the residents, and they have shown good adaptation. In the early summer, light breezes and haze can often be observed.

Demographic Details

Data collected in 2011 indicate that 6,080 people live in these municipalities. The 1999 census highlighted an interesting phenomenon: 76% of the total population was born in this group of islands, the rest was born in France. In addition, this group of islands has a very high rate of emigration, a trend that is particularly evident among young people who initially go abroad to study but do not consider returning after a period of time elsewhere in the country. There are many Roman Catholics and no other prominent religious groups. The language used by the majority of the population is French and traditional values ​​are very similar to those in France. Reports indicate that the Basque language was previously used as a means of communication between people, but its use is gradually decreasing.

Cultural aspects

Every year a Basque Festival is held with special traditional performances. The region’s cuisine is heavily influenced by seafood such as lobster, snow crab, cod, mussels, etc.

Ice hockey is a popular sport here, with local teams competing against each other. One of the island’s great honours is that many of its players have also played for French teams and competed at the national level. It is worth mentioning that the guillotine has only been used once in North American history, and it was on the island of St. Pierre. It was brought from Martinique specifically to sentence Joseph Neal’s murderer, but the guillotine was in a less than ideal condition and no one was willing to carry out the execution.

There are also moderate healthcare and education facilities in the archipelago. The healthcare system is very well established and provides free facilities to the people. The people in the region are simple and like to lead a simple life. They are hospitable and try to live in harmony with others.

Miquelon

We have already highlighted above that Miquelon is located within the French Deep Blue Territory and is the largest of the two major cities. Geologically, the region consists of three small islands. This small island is located in the northern Atlantic Ocean and is known for its area of ​​over 79 square miles. A larger lagoon can be seen in the southern part of this small island, known as the Grand Barachois, which is home to a large seal population and other forms of wildlife. Another interesting point that Miquelon is most known for is that it is a famous bird watching destination.

Historical perspective

Miquelon’s name comes from the Basque language, meaning “Michael”, because the island was home to many fishermen with this name.

Demographics

The capital of the municipality is located at the northern tip of the island of Tombolo, which is the connecting point between the earlier separated island of Le Cap and the northwestern part of Miquelon. The central area has good medical services, but in order to get better and more rigorous treatment, the inhabitants are forced to move to Saint-Pierre and Saint-Jean. Turning to the details of the population living here, it is worth highlighting that most of the people have Acadian and Basque ancestry. According to information collected in 2006, a total of 615 people live on this small island.

transportation

You can easily reach this small island from Saint-Pierre by plane or boat. Miquelon Airport is the regional airport of the city. It is important not only for local residents but also for tourists who want to visit this place. The building is quite nice and houses check-in counters, a fire station, and a control tower. An important point to emphasize is that there are no direct flights from the French region. Also, the runway of this airport can accommodate only small jets.

In short, Miquelon is a decent place with its own beauty and elegance. The people are friendly, kind and enjoy a peaceful lifestyle.

Video Miquelon Island

FP/KV1J. Where is Miquelon? Map.