Guadalupe West Indies

Soufriere is the French name for sulphur mine, but also the name of an active volcano located in Guadeloupe, 10 kilometres from its capital, Basse-Terre. It is the tallest mountain in the Lesser Antilles, and rises 1.467 metres high. Therefore, they use to call it the Big Soufriere, in comparison with other two Caribbean volcanoes: Soufriere Hills in Montserrat and La Soufriere St. Vincent in Saint Vincent. These three stratovolcanoes are part of the 9 active volcanoes of the Lesser Antilles. Big Soufriere is quite a young volcano, as it was formed approx. for 200.000 years. It’s the only active volcano in Guadeloupe for 10.000 years.

The last eruption of La Soufriere took place in July 1976 and led to the evacuation of more than 70.000 people, but no loss of life. It was a bit of a controversy between two scientists: Claude Allègre and Haroun Tazieff. The latter thought it was not necessary to evacuate as there was no obvious risk of a big eruption, and he was right. The evacuation was lifted on November 1976. After 3 months of exile the population of Southern Guadeloupe could get back to their house and resume normal life. Nevertheless, the volcano left its mark in the capital causing severe economic disruption as Basse-Terre lies below.

Nowadays, the volcano stands proudly and defiant. Haroun Tazieff mentioned a possible eruption before the end of the last century but nothing happened. The real risk of the eruption is not because of the thick magma, as there use to be Pelean eruptions with glowing avalanche of hot volcanic ash. Indeed, the initial phases of the eruption are characterised by pyroclastic flows that contain a much higher proportion of gas. La Soufriere, as many stratovolcanoes, forms a lava dome which closes the crater and leads to a sudden explosion when a critical volume of magma and gas accumulates.

There is a path to get right to the top of the island. It’s a medium 3-hour walk. Going past Saint-Claude on the way to Bains Jaune, from the parking you have 4 kilometres in circle. Don’t suffer by breathing sulphur!