Places, Traditions and Discoveries · Drawing 09
The islands' sand dunes

On the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, wind shapes the sand dunes. Tall grasses help keep the sand in place.
Look together
What colour will you choose for the sand?
An idea to try
On a drawing of dunes, trace an imaginary route with your finger that goes around the clumps of grass.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
The Îles-de-la-Madeleine's dunes are environments where sand and plants interact. American beachgrass, locally called foin de dune, plays an important role. Its long leaves slow wind near the ground, helping sand grains settle. Its underground parts also help hold sand in place.
The local organization Attention FragÎles documents these environments and carries out restoration work. Look at the grass clumps as an important part of the landscape. Imagine a route that lets people admire the dunes without trampling the plants.
Sources and context
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. Source titles appear in their original language; some linked pages are in French.
- Attention FragÎles — Guide de formation sur les milieux des Îles-de-la-Madeleine
- Attention FragÎles — Rapport d’activités 2016–2019
Source review: 2026-09-12. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.