Zec des Martres

Zec des Martres
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Zec des Martres

Province of Quebec

Location Canada, Quebec, Charlevoix
Charlevoix-Est
Nearest city Lac-Pikauba
Coordinates 47°48′00″N 70°37′00″W / 47.80000°N 70.61667°WCoordinates: 47°48′00″N 70°37′00″W / 47.80000°N 70.61667°W[1]
Area 424 kilometres (263.46 mi)[2]
Established 1978
Governing body Association de plein air des Martres inc
Website http://zecdesmartres.reseauzec.com/

The Zec of Martens is a "zone d'exploitation contrôlée" (controlled harvesting zone) (ZEC), in the unorganized territory of Lac-Pikauba, in Charlevoix Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, Canada.

ZEC is located in public lands. It is managed by "Association de plein air des Martres inc" (Association of Outdoor Martens inc) which is a non-profit organization. ZEC has a mission to develop the land and make it available to the general public for outdoor activities including: hiking, quad/snowmobile, camping, hunting, fishing and watching scenery, flora and fauna.

Geography

Founded in 1978, the ZEC des Martres covers 424 square kilometers and includes 219 lakes. The zec is entirely in forested area.

The Laurentides Wildlife Reserve is the western boundary of the ZEC; the Parc national des Grands-Jardins, on south-west; the Municipality of Saint-Urbain, at southeast of ZEC du Lac-au-Sable, on east; and the Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie (National Park of Hautes-Gorges out-of-la-Rivière-Malbaie) to the north.

The route 381 linking Baie Saint-Paul to Saguenay run more or less along the western boundary of the ZEC. While a segment of the road in the Hautes-Gorges crosses the eastern part of the ZEC, in the north-south direction.

The main rivers of the ZEC are: Malbaie, Chouinard, Porc-Épic (Porcupine), des Érables (Maples), "rivière Chemin des canots" (river of canoes road) and "ruisseau du Pont" (Creek Bridge).

Major lakes of the zec are: "des Américains" (Americans), de la Baie (by the Bay), Barley, Beaulieu, Belle Truite, du Bouchon, Boulianne, de la Cabane, Caribou, des Cavernes (Cave), du Coeur (Heart), en Coeur (in Heart), du Coq, "Côte à Côte", Croche, "à l'Écluse", des Employés, des Érables, Équerre, Évanturel, Favre, Froid, "Premier lac du Foulon", "Deuxième lac du Foulon", "Deuxième lac Paul", Gabriel, "de la Galette", "du Gros Castor", "de la Grosse Femelle", de la Hache, Jérôme, Lesclache, Long, Lunettes, "à la Main", "des Martres", de la Mésange, Nazaire, Oscar, du Pied des Monts, Petit lac Barley, Petit lac de la Baie, Petit lac Barley, Petit lac Long, Petit lac Malfait, "Petit lac des Martres", "Petit lac de la Savane", "Petit lac Malbaie", Pouliot, Prime, Resche, Rétréci (Shrunk), Rameau, Robbé, Rosa, Tité and "du Tonnerre" (Thunder). Many lakes in the ZEC are equipped with a ramp to the water.

ZEC offers a hosting service at "Chalet de la Cheminée" (Villa of the Fireplace) and 17 campgrounds, all accessible by car.

Toponymy

The name "ZEC des Martres" takes its name from Lac des Martres (Lake of Martens) which is the largest lake of the ZEC. Marten is a carnivorous mammal with long, supple body, a bushy tail and brown fur. The "Pékan" (in French) is the marten of Canada and the "Zibeline" (in French) is the one of the Siberia and Japan.

In Quebec, forty names include specific "Marten" and "Martre". Lake Martens appeared in the "Dictionary of the Rivers and Lakes of the Province of Quebec" by Eugene Rouillard, Department of Lands and Forests, 1914, page 270. This book shows that in 1886, the land surveyor, F. Vincent Lake Martens described as being located in mountainous terrain, surrounded by fir and spruce. He also noted the presence of trout in its waters.

The name of the lake is due to the presence of the Marten of Canada, a carnivorous mammal also known as "Pékan" (in French), whose furs has long adorned the necks of coats. The name of Zec des Martres is derived from the official name of Lac des Martres (lake of Martens).[3]

The name "Zec des Martres" was formalized on August 5, 1982 at the Bank of place names in the Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec).[4]

See also

References

  1. Gouvernement du Québec. "Commission de toponymie du Québec (controlled harvesting zone)- Banque des noms de lieux - Zec des Martres". Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  2. Gouvernement du Québec - Énergie et Ressources naturelles. "Zones d'exploitation contrôlée (controlled harvesting zone)". Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  3. Book: Names and places of Quebec, the work of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec), published in 1994 and 1996 as an illustrated dictionary printed, and in that of a CD produced by Micro-Intel in 1997 from this dictionary.
  4. Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec) - Bank of place names - names: zec des Martres

External links