Station Uapishka

The Station is co-owned and co-managed by the Manicouagan-Uapishka Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO) and the First Nation Innu Band Council of Pessamit and is located in Québec, Canada, region 09 (North-Shore-Manicouagan). Provincial protected Area (IUCN Category II). The station is located on the shore of one of the largest lake-reservoirs of Québec and at the foot of the Uapishka mountain range (thirty peaks over 1000 meters). Positioned north of the 51st parallel, Uapishka Station provides a framework for Northern Studies, from the point of view of both basic and applied research. Opening access to part of this previously little explored Nordic territory, the station is located in the heart of three protected areas, including the Uapishka Biodiversity Reserve.
The availability of duly equipped scientific facilities and adjacent housing infrastructure makes this the only research station of its type in operation on the North Shore. Our organization aims to facilitate the presence of researchers in the region.
Name | Phone Number | ||
Primary Contact | Jean-Philippe L. Messier | info@uapishka.com | (418) 296-3873 |
Download Station Uapishka profile as a PDF document
Membership
Associate Member
Owner
Conseil des Innus de Pessamit et la Réserve mondiale de la biosphère Manicouagan-Uapishka
Institution in Charge
Station Uapishka SENC
Website
http://stationuapishka.com/
Latitude
51.46944
Longitude
68.23431
Location
Km 336, Route 389, TNO Rivière-aux-Outardes, QC
Address
4 Metsheteu, Pessamit, QC, G0H 1B0
Opening Year
2016
Operational Period
All season
Station Networks
UQAR, Institut nordique du Québec, INTERACT (International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic)
Environment
Keywords:
Spruce-moss forest, Arctic tundra, Monts Groulx
Climate:
Spruce-moss forest
Mean Annual Temperature:
– 2.9°C
Precipitation:
2.44 mm/day; (890 mm/year)
Ice Breakup:
Réservoir Manicouagan: May/June
Permafrost:
None
Altitude:
Station: 365 m Highest peak, Monts Groulx: 1104 m Minimum altitude within study area: 350 m
Natural Environment:
Spruce-moss forest, Arctic tundra – Monts Groulx
Human Dimension:
The Station Uapishka is located within the Biosphere Reserve Manicouagan-Uapishka, which as been designated by UNESCO in 2007. It is also located within the Nitassinan (traditional territory) of the Innu community of Pessamit.
Research
Disciplines:
Climate change; ecological integrity of Nordic ecosystems; traditional and contemporary Indigenous occupation; boreal forest: social and Indigenous forestry; energy supply in isolated environments; land planning, social acceptability and Northern governance.
Current Research:
This new research station was established in 2016 and is still at a planning stage for research platforms with the associate university, Université de Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) and with the group Institut Nordique du Québec (INQ).
Scientific Services:
Safe storage of scientific equipment; laboratory and classroom; internet connection; Zodiac availability; provisions logistics service
Total Area of Station
1200 m2
Number or Rooms (beds)
The research station is composed of 9 single rooms, 4 double rooms and 2 triple rooms in the main building that can accommodate a total of 23 people. On site, there are also 2 dormitories, 3 prospectors’ camps and 2 small cabins. The whole site can accommodate up to 58 people.
Staff
6 to 10 people
Capacity
58 people
Commodities
Dining hall, meal service, rest area, conference room, reception room, television, accessible for people with reduced mobility, infirmary
Communication
Telephone, wireless internet
Vehicles
Snowmobiles (on demand), shuttle services (on demand) Zodiacks (on demand)
Local resources
Réserve mondiale de la biosphère Manicouagan-Uapishka (www.rmbmu.com); Conseil des Innus de Pessamit (www.pessamit.org)
How to Get There
Access:
The Station Uapishka is accessible in all seasons from Baie-Comeau by Route 389 (336 km – 4.5 hours drive), followed by a two-kilometer managed forest road. There is an airport in Baie-Comeau, connecting to Montreal and therefore, any world desitnation.
Landing facilities:
Hellipad
Safety, Medical Services and Insurance
Safety equipment:
SPOT GPS tracking device, Radio VHF
Medical services:
Infirmary available on site
Last Updated
2019-05-27