Saguenay, Quebec is famous for its magnificent fjord. Formed during the last Ice Age, the fjord is the most southerly one in the northern hemisphere.
As beautiful as this natural wonder is, it's another attraction that has my attention this day: Little White House.
I am sailing on the Viking Expedition Cruise "Canadian Discovery," and Saguenay is one of the ports.
As part of an included tour of the city, I learned about the Saguenay flood, a series of flash floods on July 19 and 20, 1996, that hit the region. It was the most significant overland flood in 20th-century Canadian history.
A knowledgeable local tour guide said problems started after two weeks of constant rain. In two days, rainfall accumulated that was "equivalent to the volume of water that tumbles over Niagara Falls in four weeks."
More than 8 feet of water flooded the area, completely leveling an entire neighborhood. More than 16,000 people were evacuated. The official death toll was ten, with losses and damages estimated at CA$1.5 billion.
In the end, 488 homes were destroyed and 1,230 damaged.
Our motor coach approached a beautifully maintained park with a small white house. During the flood, we are told, it stood nearly unharmed while torrents of water rushed in on every side. It became the symbol of surviving the flood. It is now part of a historical park.
The tiny house is now a museum and a small gift shop. Water pours out from under the house's bright red door to symbolize its survival.
I enjoy visiting different communities with Viking Cruises and learning about local history. A quarter of a century has passed since the horrific flood. The Little White House will always remind this city's residents of the event and the resilience of its citizens.
For more information on Viking Cruises, click here.
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