Mer Bleue

Mer Bleue Bog is one of the largest bogs in southern Ontario and arguably the most important natural area in the Greenbelt. Ecologically , Mer Bleue is an especially valuable example of a northern ecosystem - more typical of the Arctic than the Ottawa Valley - and it has been designated an internationally significant wetland under the United Nations' Ramsar Convention.

The most striking feature of the area is the bog mat itself, a "sea" of deep, saturated peat overtopped by open heath and stunted to moderate-sized black spruce and tamarack trees. The mat is home to a variety of plants, some of which are rare, but almost all exhibit unusual characteristics enabling them to survive in the demanding environment.

The key to the bog's character is a small moss called Sphagnum . Other plants include the sundew, pitcher plant, rare orchids, bog rosemary, Labrador tea, several species of cotton grass, and a variety of low heath shrubs. A self-guided interpretive trail enables you to learn more about the fascinating story of the bog.

This habitat is also home for a variety of exceptional animals including the nationally rare spotted turtle, and Fletcher's dragonfly, an insect known from only a handful of sites worldwide. Some more common inhabitants include snowshoe hare, beaver, muskrat and a variety of waterfowl.

Boardwalk: Mer Bleue Trail ( 1.2 km long)