Pointe-Platon
Ecological Reserve

(Cadastral map of site also available: 69 K)

This ecological reserve on the south shore of the St. Lawrence is located within the municipality of Ste-Croix (Lotbinière). Its purpose is to conserve natural communities representative of wetlands along the river in the Quebec City area. Three quarters of the site is occupied by a vast American bulrush marsh. Forest communities dominate the rest of the site beyond the marsh, on two terraces separated by a steep slope. While sugar maple have colonized the slope, the lower terrace has a variety of plant communities dominated by poplar, red ash, alder and various willow species. In addition, 10 floristic species likely to be designated as threatened or vulnerable have been identified at the site; four of them are endemic to the freshwater estuary of the St. Lawrence.

Marsh of Pointe-Platon. Photo: MEF

Occupying an area of 60 hectares, the Pointe Platon site is now one of the 58 protected areas under the terms of the Act respecting Ecological Reserves, which is administered by the Quebec Department of the Environment and Wildlife.