Champlain Statue

Canada / Ontario / Ottawa /
 statue, monument
Samuel de Champlain (1567–1635) was the 17th-century explorer, geographer and map-maker who founded the city of Quebec in 1608 and in 1613 explored the Ottawa River. This statue was erected to commemorate the 300th anniversary of his second ascent up the Ottawa River at the very location where he would have made his solar observation during his voyage in 1615.

Champlain certainly knew how to use an astrolabe — an old navigational instrument — but the sculptor did not: Champlain is shown holding it upside down!
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_de_Champlain
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   45°25'46"N   75°42'5"W
This article was last modified 16 years ago