The town of Gaspé encompasses more than 17 coastal villages spread out over 150 kilometres along the coast, from L'Anse-à-Valleau, northern gateway to the town of Gaspé, to Douglastown. Wherever you might be, salt or fresh water is never far away. A deep indentation in the coastline creates a magnificent body of water sheltered by the mountains, the Gaspé Bay. In Gaspé, you can fish salmon in three crystal-clear rivers, the York, the Dartmouth and the Saint-Jean. Each year more than 1,500 fishermen come to this region to cast their lines. The summer season overflows with festivals and shows and becomes the meeting place for swimmers, sailors and sports enthusiasts. Some say that Griffon was the name of a ship that sailed along the coast in the 18th century. Others believe that the name comes from Gris-fonds (grey bottom) in reference to the colour of the seabed. There is also a legend that tells how the Devil, in response to the desperate cries of shipwrecked people, left the marks of his claws (griffes) on the rowboat in which these people had escaped.
Source: Tourisme Gaspésie