Île d'Orléans (Orleans Island) is a small piece of land where the salt water of the Atlantic starts to mix with the fresh water of the St. Lawrence.  It was one of the first significant French settlements in Quebec in the 1600’s, and is considered the birthplace of francophones in North America.  In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a major centre for boat building and fishing, and also has a long agricultural history, contributing to its reputation as the ‘Garden of Quebec’.