Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France, situated in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean near Canada. It is the only remnant of the former colonial empire of New France that remains under French control, with a population of 6,080 at the January 2011 census. The islands are situated at the entrance of Fortune Bay, which extends into the southern coast of Newfoundland, near the Grand Banks. They are 3,819 kilometres from Brest, the nearest point in Metropolitan France, but just 20 kilometres off the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada.

Did you know that:
1. The flag contains a yellow ship on a blue background with three squares along the left side.. The yellow ship likely represents the Grande Hermine which is the ship that Jacques Cartier landed on the island of Saint Pierre with on June 15, 1536. The three squares on the left of the flag represent the Basque, Breton, and Norman ethnic groups. André Paturel is widely believed to have been the designer of the flag.
2. A six kilometer strait separates the islands of Miquelon and Saint Pierre. Fisherman named this waterway “The Mouth of Hell”. There have been more than 600 documented shipwrecks within the waters of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Strong currents are the main reason for this waterway being so dangerous for fisherman.
3. Every year in the summer there is a Basque Festival, with demonstrations of harrijasotzaile (stone heaving), aizkolari (lumberjack skills), and pelota.
4. Street names are not commonly used on the islands. Directions and locations are commonly given using nicknames and the names of nearby residents.