La Grande Plée Bleue is a peat bog (tourbière) situated in the city of Lévis, within the Chaudière‑Appalaches administrative region of Quebec, Canada. Covering an area of approximately 1 500 ha (15 km² or 5.8 sq mi), it ranks among the largest wetlands in eastern Quebec.
Geography and hydrology
The bog consists of a network of more than 650 ponds and serves as the principal source of the Couture River. It lies north of the Plée de Beauharnois and northeast of the Plée de Saint‑Charles.
Ecology
- Flora: About 150 plant species have been recorded, including several carnivorous plants that are uncommon in Quebec.
- Fauna: The site supports roughly 100 bird species, notably various waterfowl, and around 200 insect species.
The wetland is recognized under Canada’s Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Management
The area is administered by the Société de conservation et de mise en valeur de la Grande Plée Bleue, which oversees its protection and public education initiatives such as an educational trail.
Etymology
The term “plée” is considered a phonetic variant of the feminine French word prée (meaning prairie), reflecting historical pronunciation shifts in New France. The adjective “bleue” likely refers to the presence of blueberry (bleuet) plants that give the landscape a bluish hue.
References
- Wikipedia contributors, “La Grande Plée Bleue,” Wikipedia, accessed 2026.
- Commission de toponymie du Québec entries for Plée de Beauharnois and Plée de Saint‑Charles.
Note: Information is drawn from publicly available encyclopedic sources and reflects the status of the site as of the latest referenced publications.