Canadian archipelago was populated by wreck survivors

The archipelago of Madalena, Canada, has a population of 12, 000, almost all of which have a common trait: they are descendants of shipwreck survivors. This type of accident was common in the region around the 18th and 19th centuries, with at least 500 vessels sinking there.

At that time there were no lighthouses to warn the commanders, who used to run aground on shallow sandbanks. Strong winds, choppy currents, and fog helped worsen navigability, causing many people to die as they tried to pass by.

In 1847, the ship "Miracle" ("Miracle") sank with 446 people on board. Surprisingly, almost all were rescued alive and helped colonize the region. Today, most of the population of the Magdalene archipelago descends from this group. As early as 1870, the first lighthouse was installed on these islands, which now have six bright spots to guide sailors.

Not even that prevented new wrecks from happening, but at least the situation is a little safer. The most spoken language in the archipelago is French, and the population lives in a kind of geographical isolation, as few venture there today - especially during the winter, when the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence get frozen!

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