Dunes-de-la-Moraine-d'Harricana Ecological Reserve

IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserve

BWf1

The Réserve écologique des Dunes -de- la Moraine d'Harricana is an ecological reserve in the south of the Canadian province of Quebec, Rouyn -Noranda in the MRC.

It is located about 30 km southwest of Val- d'Or on the northern edge of the Baie Boston (Boston Bay ) of the Réservoir Decelles of Ottawa. The reserve was established in 1994 on an area of ​​540 ha.

It protects and represents a complex of lakes, dunes and marshes, which are incurred in connection with a moraine, and typical of the Haut Saint -Maurice fir - yellow birch forests. The subsoil consists of granite and similar rocks from the early days of the Canadian Shield. The dunes formed along the Harricana Moraine. Nevertheless, here podzol, regosol and organic deposits have formed, so that here also can grow trees. These are about Banks pines (called pin gris ) that colonize the dune crests, or black spruce. In addition, peat moss and heather plants where the water flows bad or very bad.