Mont Saint-Magloire facts for kids

Mont Saint-Magloire is a mountain located in Quebec, Canada. It stands in the municipality of Saint-Philémon, within the Bellechasse Regional County Municipality. This mountain is a key part of the Massif-du-Sud Regional Park, a popular spot for outdoor activities.

Exploring Mont Saint-Magloire

Mont Saint-Magloire is part of the Notre Dame Mountains, which are themselves part of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. The mountain reaches an impressive height of about 915 meters (3,002 feet). It is located roughly 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the city of Lévis. The very top of Mont Saint-Magloire is found inside the Massif-du-Sud Regional Park.

Plants and Trees on the Mountain

The forests of Mont Saint-Magloire are home to many different kinds of trees. You can find paper birch, red pine, sugar maple, and balsam fir. Other trees include yellow birch, white spruce, tamarack, and western cedar (also known as white cedar).

Animals Living on the Mountain

The mountain's forests are also full of wildlife. Keep an eye out for white-tailed deer, river otters, and beavers. Larger animals like moose and black bears also call this area home.

Views and How to Get There

From the top of Mont Saint-Magloire, you can enjoy amazing views of the mountains around you. You might even see the EDF wind farm in the distance. To reach the summit, you'll need to hike along wooded trails. In winter, these trails are also open for snowmobiles.

Special Old Forests of Mont Saint-Magloire

The high Appalachian mountains, like Mont Saint-Magloire, have a climate similar to areas much further north. This means they have a type of forest called a boreal forest. Normally, natural events like strong winds, fires, or insect outbreaks clear out old trees. Human activities like logging also cause big changes. While some animals like new, growing forests, others need old forests to survive.

Why Old Forests Are Important

In the Mont Saint-Magloire area, the boreal forest is mostly found on the upper parts of the mountains. Many animal species that live here are also found in northern forests. A special protected area, the Claude-Mélançon Ecological Reserve, covers 535 hectares (1,322 acres) right in the heart of the Massif du Sud. This reserve includes the western side of Mont Saint-Magloire.

The highest point in this reserve is 917 meters (3,009 feet) above sea level. Because logging is not allowed here, the forest has many old trees, dead standing trees (called snags), and fallen logs. This abundance of dead wood is very important for certain wildlife species. It provides them with food, shelter, and protection from predators.

Rare Birds in the Old Forest

Bird experts have found several bird species in this old forest that are very rare south of the St. Lawrence River. These birds need this specific habitat to survive, especially since logging has made such forests uncommon. Some of these special birds include:

• Spruce grouse
• Black-backed woodpecker
• Tawny sparrow
• White-crowned sparrow
• Yellow-bellied flycatcher
• Golden-crowned wren
• Evening grosbeak
• Red crossbill
• Crooked crossbill
• Collared warbler
• Striped warbler

For example, the black-backed woodpecker finds insects by drilling into old or dead conifer trees. The collared warbler uses tree lichen, which grows on old conifers, to build its nests. Crossbills eat mostly conifer seeds, which are plentiful on large, mature trees.

Fun Activities on the Mountain

If you love hiking, there's a 15.0 km (9.3 mile) trail (round trip) that takes you through the forest to the summit. The trail climbs 527 meters (1,729 feet) in elevation. This path is not very crowded and follows a river for part of the way. It's considered a moderate difficulty hike and offers many chances for outdoor fun.

What's in a Name?

The name "Mont Saint-Magloire" is connected to the nearby municipality of Saint-Magloire. This town was named in honor of Father Joseph-Magloire Rioux (1831-1908), who was an important figure in the area.

The name of the mountain was officially recognized on March 6, 1970, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special committee that names places in Quebec.