On the Topic of Martinique and Mt. Pelée
Robert Font, CPG 3953
This past March I fulfilled one of the remaining goals on my bucket list. I vis- ited the city of St. Pierre in Martinique and had a great view of the infamous Mt. Pelée. My experience and observa- tions regarding this fascinating area are condensed in the ensuing discussion.
Overview of Martinique:
During my visit, a delightful lady and local tour guide, Françoise, provided a concise and informative narrative of the island. In essence, Martinique is an insular region of France located in the “Lesser Antilles.” Its total area is 436 square miles. Fort-de-France is the nation’s capital. Other important cities include Marigot, La Trinité, Le Robert, Le Vaudin, Le Marin, Rivière Salée, Schoelcher and St. Pierre (Figure 1). The current total population is approxi- mately 386,000.
The south is drier and characterized by savanna-like brush.
of the “Caribbean Plate.” Many of the islands have formed as a result of sub- duction of oceanic crust from the “South American Plate” under the “Caribbean Plate.” The process continues and is responsible for volcanic and earthquake activity in the region.
Figure 2. “Botanical Gardens of Balata.” Photo by Robert Font.
The island’s native fauna includes lizards and the dangerous “fer-de-lance” snake. The viper is portrayed in the “snake flag” of Martinique or “drapeau aux serpents.” In the 1800s mongooses were introduced to control the snake population. However, the mongoose has become problematic as it now preys on chickens and native birds. And, by the way, the snakes are still thriving.
The northern side of the island is mountainous with the highest point being Mt. Pelée at 4,853 feet above sea level. In contrast, the south has less relief. Attractive beaches are found in the southern section of the island.
General Geology Setting and Mt. Pelée:
Figure 1. Map of Martinique. http://upload.
wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/ Martinique-Map.png
Tropical forests are part of the island. The “Botanical Gardens of Balata” (Figure 2), which I visited near the capital city of Fort-de-France, are repre- sentative of the flora of Martinique. The northern end of the island catches most of the rainfall and is heavily forested.
The “Lesser Antilles” or “Caribbees” is the name given to the island arc south of the Virgin Islands. Most form a long, partly volcanic island arc between the “Greater Antilles” to the north-west and the continent of South America to the south. The islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. The “Lesser Antilles,” “Greater Antilles,” and the “Bahamas” constitute what we know as the “West Indies.”
Pertinent to plate tectonics, the “Lesser Antilles” mark the outer edge
Figure 3. The “Lesser Antilles.” http://www.
beautifulholidays.com.au/travel-guide/caribbean/ us-virgin-islands/maps/
us-virgin-islands-s.gif
The island of Martinique is volcanic in origin. The oldest rocks consist of Upper Paleogene andesitic lava. Mt. Pelée is the island’s most dramatic fea- ture. Rock samples from Mt. Pelée kept by the Smithsonian Institute include hypersthene andesite, dacite, volcanic ash, pumice and tephra. The strato- volcano erupted in 1792, 1851, and twice in 1902. The eruption of 8 May 1902, on “Ascension Day,” destroyed St. Pierre which is located only 4 miles south of the summit (Figures 4 and 5).
The geologic history of the “Lesser Antilles” is complex. Basically, north of Dominica, the arc is divided into two island chains. The eastern chain is an older extinct arc largely covered by thick carbonate platforms. The western chain is a more recent arc and the site of active volcanism. South of Dominica the two arcs are superimposed, forming one chain of islands (Figure 3).
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56