In this spectacular rare feature-length documentary, famed 20th-century French explorer Jacques Cousteau and his Calypso crew embark on a special North American expedition, retracing the 16th-century voyage of fellow countryman Jacques Cartier, who first navigated the 2,300-mile stretch of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada, this visually stunning journey captures the river’s dramatic beauty and explores its profound historical and ecological legacy.
Sailing from the Gulf of St. Lawrence through the Great Lakes, Cousteau and his team explore the region by helicopter, diving saucer, and traditional scuba. Along the way, they investigate historic shipwrecks, witness the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls in winter, examine the massive Manicouagan power dam, and navigate the intricate locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway. A thrilling underwater chase with swimming caribou provides one of the film’s most unforgettable moments.
Cousteau also uncovers two perfectly preserved American men-of-war sunk during the War of 1812, and heads into the icy, unpredictable waters of Lake Superior, searching for clues related to the tragic sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald—a modern maritime mystery that still haunts the Great Lakes.
Narrated by Gordon Pinsent, St. Lawrence: Stairway to the Sea is both a celebration and a cautionary tale, offering a sweeping look at how 400 years of human activity have shaped one of the world’s most important inland waterways.
