Editing Saint Pierre and Miquelon (section)

==Geography==
{{main|Geography of Saint Pierre and Miquelon}}

Located off the western end of the Newfoundland's [[Burin Peninsula]], the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon comprises eight islands, totalling {{convert|242|km2|mi2}}, of which only two are inhabited.<ref name="cia"/><ref name="ann-2010-1">{{cite web |url=http://www.iedom.fr/IMG/pdf/ra2010_st-pierre-et-miquelon.pdf |title=Rapport annuel 2010 IEDOM Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon |page=16 |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127043404/http://www.iedom.fr/IMG/pdf/ra2010_st-pierre-et-miquelon.pdf |archive-date=27 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The islands are bare and rocky, with steep coasts, and only a thin layer of [[peat]] to soften the hard landscape.<ref name="htg">{{cite web |url=http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/pierre_miquelon.html |title=St. Pierre et Miquelon |publisher=Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602074252/http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/pierre_miquelon.html |archive-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The islands, like Newfoundland, are geologically part of the northeastern end of the [[Appalachian Mountains]].<ref name="cia"/>

{{lang|fr|Miquelon-Langlade}}, the largest island, is in fact composed of two islands; [[Miquelon Island]] (also called {{lang|fr|'''Grande Miquelon'''}}, {{cvt|110|km2|mi2|disp=or}}) is connected to Langlade Island ({{lang|fr|'''Petite Miquelon'''}}, {{cvt|91|km2|mi2|disp=or}}) by the ''{{lang|fr|[[La Dune|Dune de Langlade]]}}'' (also known as the {{lang|fr|'''Isthme de Langlade'''}}), a {{convert|10|km|mi|adj=on}} long sandy [[tombolo]].<ref name="rece-2006"/><ref name="britannica.com"/> A storm severed them in the 18th century, separating the two islands for several decades, before currents reconstructed the isthmus.<ref name="1999-insee-731"/> {{lang|fr|[[Morne de la Grande Montagne]]}}, the tallest point in the territory at 240 meters high, is located on Grande Miquelon.<ref name="cia"/> The waters between Langlade and Saint-Pierre were called "the Mouth of Hell" ({{langx|fr|link=no|Gueule d'Enfer}}) until about 1900, as more than 600 shipwrecks have been recorded in that point since 1800.<ref name="maplepedia">{{cite encyclopedia |author=James Marsh |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saint-pierre-and-miquelon |title=Saint-Pierre and Miquelon |encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217194822/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/saint-pierre-and-miquelon/ |archive-date=17 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the north of Miquelon Island is the village of [[Miquelon-Langlade]] (710 inhabitants), while Langlade Island is almost deserted (only one inhabitant in the 1999 census).<ref name="1999-insee-731"/>

{{lang|fr|[[Saint Pierre Island]]}}, whose area is smaller, {{convert|26|km2|mi2}}, is the most populous and the commercial and administrative center of the archipelago. [[Saint-Pierre Airport]] has been in operation since 1999 and is capable of accommodating long-haul flights from France.<ref name="rece-2006"/>

A third, formerly inhabited island, {{lang|fr|[[L'Île-aux-Marins|Isle-aux-Marins]]}}, known as {{lang|fr|Île-aux-Chiens}} until 1931 and located a short distance from the port of Saint-Pierre, has been uninhabited since 1963.<ref name="1999-insee-731"/> The other main islands are {{lang|fr|[[Grand Colombier]]}}, {{lang|fr|[[Île aux Vainqueurs]]}}, and {{lang|fr|[[Île aux Pigeons]]}}.

<gallery widths="250px" heights="180px">
File:Saint-Pierre and Miquelon 3D.png|Vertically exaggerated model of the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
File:Sainte-Pierre aerial.jpg|''Saint-Pierre'' aerial photo, 2013. [[Saint-Pierre Airport]] is at the lower right.
File:StPierre003.JPG|Aerial view of St Pierre, the capital and largest town
</gallery>

===Environment===
{{see also|South Avalon–Burin oceanic barrens}}
[[Seabirds]] are the most common fauna.<ref name="brit-1">{{Britannica|518157|Saint-Pierre and Miquelon }}</ref> [[Pinniped|Seals]] and other wildlife can be found in the Grand Barachois Lagoon of Miquelon. Every spring, whales migrating to [[Greenland]] are visible off the coasts of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. [[Trilobite]] fossils have been found on Langlade. The stone pillars off the island coasts called "L'anse aux Soldats" eroded away and disappeared in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grandcolombier.com/2003-geographie/geologie/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060111105117/http://www.grandcolombier.com/2003-geographie/geologie/index.html |archive-date=11 January 2006 |title=La Géologie des îles Saint-Pierre et Miquelon |work=Encyclopédie des îles Saint-Pierre & Miquelon |publisher=Miquelon Conseil |language=fr }}</ref> The rocky islands are barren, except for scrubby [[Taxus canadensis|yews]] and [[juniper]]s and thin volcanic soil.<ref name="maplepedia"/> The forest cover of the hills, except in parts of Langlade, had been removed for fuel long ago.<ref name="brit-1"/>

===Climate===
[[File:Port of saint-pierre, SPM.jpg|thumb|Port of Miquelon during the winter]]

In spite of being located at a similar latitude to the [[Bay of Biscay]], the archipelago is characterized by a cold borderline [[humid continental climate|humid continental]]/[[subarctic climate]], under the influence of polar air masses and the cold [[Labrador Current]].<ref name="ann-2010-1"/> The mild winters for being a subarctic climate also means it has influences of [[subpolar oceanic climate]], thus being at the confluence of three climatic types. The February mean is just below the {{convert|-3|C|F}} isotherm for that classification.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=718050&cityname=Saint-Pierre-St.-Pierre-Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon |title=Saint Pierre Temperature Averages |publisher=Weatherbase |access-date=3 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203173517/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=718050&cityname=Saint-Pierre-St.-Pierre-Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon |archive-date=3 February 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to just three months being above 10&nbsp;°C (50&nbsp;°F) in mean temperatures and winter lows being so mild, Saint Pierre and Miquelon has a [[Köppen Climate Classification]] of ''Dfc'', if bordering on ''Cfc'' due to the mildness of the winter and either ''Dfb'' or ''Cfb'' due to the closeness of the fourth-and fifth-warmest months to having mean temperatures at or above 10&nbsp;°C (50&nbsp;°F).

Typical maritime [[seasonal lag]] is also strong with September being warmer than June and March being colder than December. The average temperature is {{cvt|5.3|C|||}}, with a temperature range of 19 °C (35 °F) between the warmest ({{cvt|15.7|C|||}} in August) and coldest months ({{cvt|-3.6|C|||}} in February).<ref name="ann-2010-1"/> [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] is abundant ({{cvt|1312|mm|disp=or||}} per year) and regular (146 days per year), falling as snow and rain.<ref name="ann-2010-1"/> Because of its location at the confluence of the cold waters of the Labrador Current and the warm waters of the [[Gulf Stream]], the archipelago is also crossed a hundred days a year by fog banks, mainly in June and July.<ref name="ann-2010-1"/>

Two other climatic elements are remarkable: the extremely variable winds and haze during the spring to early summer.<ref name="om-pres">{{cite web |url=http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr/?presentation-saint-pierre-et-miquelon.html |title=Présentation |publisher=L'Outre-Mer |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128034432/http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr/?presentation-saint-pierre-et-miquelon.html |archive-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Meteo France
|Town=Saint Pierre and Miquelon
|Sunshine= 1,427
|Rain=1,323.5
|Snow=99.0
|Storm=6.6
|Fog=100.8<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lameteo.org/index.php/12-climatologie/1672-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-saint-pierre-et-miquelon |title=Normales climatiques 1981-2010 : Saint Pierre and Miquelon |website=www.lameteo.org |access-date=2 June 2022 |archive-date=29 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029054937/https://www.lameteo.org/index.php/12-climatologie/1672-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-saint-pierre-et-miquelon |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = St Pierre and Miquelon (1991–2020 averages, extremes 1941–present)
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 9.8
|Feb record high C = 9.4
|Mar record high C = 12.2
|Apr record high C = 13.8
|May record high C = 22.0
|Jun record high C = 25.1
|Jul record high C = 28.3
|Aug record high C = 26.2
|Sep record high C = 26.8
|Oct record high C = 20.1
|Nov record high C = 15.1
|Dec record high C = 12.8
|year record high C = 28.3
|Jan high C = 0.2
|Feb high C = -0.4
|Mar high C = 1.4
|Apr high C = 4.8
|May high C = 8.9
|Jun high C = 12.9
|Jul high C = 17.1
|Aug high C = 19.4
|Sep high C = 16.6
|Oct high C = 11.7
|Nov high C = 7.2
|Dec high C = 3.1
|year high C = 8.6
|Jan mean C = -2.4
|Feb mean C = -2.9
|Mar mean C = -1.1
|Apr mean C = 2.1
|May mean C = 5.9
|Jun mean C = 9.9
|Jul mean C = 14.4
|Aug mean C = 16.8
|Sep mean C = 14.0
|Oct mean C = 9.3
|Nov mean C = 4.8
|Dec mean C = 0.8
|year mean C = 6.0
|Jan low C = -4.9
|Feb low C = -5.5
|Mar low C = -3.5
|Apr low C = -0.5
|May low C = 2.8
|Jun low C = 6.8
|Jul low C = 11.6
|Aug low C = 14.2
|Sep low C = 11.3
|Oct low C = 6.9
|Nov low C = 2.5
|Dec low C = -1.5
|year low C = 3.4
|Jan record low C = -17.4
|Feb record low C = -18.7
|Mar record low C = -18.1
|Apr record low C = -9.8
|May record low C = -4.5
|Jun record low C = 0.7
|Jul record low C = 4.9
|Aug record low C = 5.8
|Sep record low C = 1.7
|Oct record low C = -2.6
|Nov record low C = -9.2
|Dec record low C = -14.6
|year record low C = -18.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 104.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 98.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 96.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 88.0
|May precipitation mm = 101.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 93.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 97.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 101.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 129.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 134.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 132.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 117.2
|year precipitation mm = 1295.3
|unit precipitation days = 1.0mm
|Jan precipitation days = 15.7
|Feb precipitation days = 14.0
|Mar precipitation days = 11.5
|Apr precipitation days = 10.4
|May precipitation days = 10.5
|Jun precipitation days = 9.9
|Jul precipitation days = 10.1
|Aug precipitation days = 10.1
|Sep precipitation days = 9.9
|Oct precipitation days = 12.8
|Nov precipitation days = 14.4
|Dec precipitation days = 15.3
|year precipitation days = 144.6
|Jan rain days = 3.03
|Feb rain days = 4.07
|Mar rain days = 5.17
|Apr rain days = 8.83
|May rain days = 12.87
|Jun rain days = 14.60
|Jul rain days = 18.50
|Aug rain days = 11.27
|Sep rain days = 6.33
|Oct rain days = 4.13
|Nov rain days = 4.70
|Dec rain days = 3.53
|year rain days = 97.03
|Jan snow days = 22.63
|Feb snow days = 19.00
|Mar snow days = 15.25
|Apr snow days = 7.36
|May snow days = 0.89
|Jun snow days = 0.04
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 1.00
|Nov snow days = 4.40
|Dec snow days = 3.20
|year snow days =
|Jan sun= 42.3
|Feb sun= 60.7
|Mar sun= 113.0
|Apr sun= 142.4
|May sun= 174.9
|Jun sun= 164.1
|Jul sun= 150.7
|Aug sun= 168.7
|Sep sun= 159.5
|Oct sun= 117.1
|Nov sun= 61.7
|Dec sun= 38.0
|year sun= 1392.9
|source 1 = Météo France<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meteospm.org/clim.php |title=Statistiques: Saint Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon |publisher=Météo France |language=fr |access-date=10 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010141939/http://www.meteospm.org/clim.php |archive-date=10 October 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meteospm.org/records.php |title=Records pour la station de Saint Pierre |publisher=Météo France |language=fr |access-date=10 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011060423/http://www.meteospm.org/records.php |archive-date=11 October 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> (Averages are for the period 1991–2020.)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_97502001.pdf |title=Climate of St-Pierre 1991-2020 |language=fr |publisher=[[Météo-France]] |access-date=20 August 2022 |archive-date=18 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418064354/https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_97502001.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date=August 2013
}}