city, Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, western Quebec province, Canada. Val-d'Or lies near Lakes Blouin, de Montigny, and Lemoine. Although its name means “valley of gold,” there is no valley in the vicinity. The town was founded by miners in 1934, and its economy depends chiefly on mining (gold, molybdenum, zinc, lead, and copper) and lumbering. Val-d'Or is also a base for the hunting and fishing of the Abitibi country, and the north entrance to La Vérendrye Wildlife Sanctuary is approximately 25 miles (40 km) south. A civil and military airport is located immediately south, at Bourlamaque. In 2002 several nearby communities were merged into the newly created Val-d'Or city. Inc. village, 1935; town, 1937; city, 2002. Pop. (2006) 31,123.