The northern tip of the island is occupied by La Ronde , a giant amusement park. Owned by US-based Six Flags, the amusement park has a battery of bone-shaking thrill rides, including Le Splash , which will leave you soaked, Le Monstre , the world's highest wooden roller coaster and Le Vampire , a suspended coaster with five gut-wrenching loops. There's also a good assortment of kiddie rides, live shows and a minirail with good river and city views. In June and July, the park hosts the Loto-Québec International Fireworks Competition on weekends.
Near La Ronde stands an old fort built in the 19th century by the British to defend Montréal from an attack by the Americans. Inside the stone ramparts is the Musée Stewart , where a collection of old maps, documents, navigational equipment, firearms and other artifacts traces the early days of Canada.
Walkways meander around the island, past gardens and among the old pavilions from the World's Fair. One of them, the American pavilion in the spherical Bucky Fuller dome, has become the Biosphère . Using hands-on displays, this center explains the Great Lakes-St Lawrence River ecosystem, which makes up 20% of the planet's fresh water reserves; demonstrates sustainable living and low energy consumption; and provides tours of a self-sufficient, solar-powered home. There's a great view of the river from the Visions Hall.
