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!

Before the first European step at the end of 1493, the island was occupied by Amerindians, originally from Asia, known as Arawaks. According to estimations, the earliest settlers landed on Guadeloupe around 300 BC. One of their main tribe in the Caribbean, the Tainos, settled in Guadeloupe and lived happily until they were removed by the Caribs who were more aggressive.

The Caribs called the island Karukera, which means roughly “island with beautiful waters”. This tribe had the honor to meet the first Europeans, although those did not settle in Guadeloupe until 1635. In fact, the island was used as a trading post until the French sent explorers to take control on the island, what they aimed in 1674. They managed to do it exterminating the local population, as the Caribs were warlike people and unlikely to be governed.

This ethnic group was almost wiped out in all the Caribbean area, although it did not extinguish. It is still possible to find a Carribean reserve in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Guadeloupe’s neighbour island southwards.

Anyway, the Arawaks left their mark in Karukera carving many rocks all over the island. It is possible to visit a park in the town of Trois-Rivières (Three-Rivers) with many of the engraved rocks in their original location. Don’t forget to turn up and have a look at this park if you’re visiting the island, as you will find a great range of tropical trees and vegetation appart from the petroglyphs.

Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator who wanted to reach the Indies through the sea. The Spanish Queen Isabella of Castile gave him three caravels to help him reach his aim. The Santa María conducted by Columbus and the Niña and the Pinta respectively by the Pinzon brothers.

Columbus did not reach the Indies in his first voyage, but opened a new world for the European. In his second voyage in late 1493, they had problems because of the lack of potable water on board for the whole crew. Columbus had decided to abandon and was about to give the order to return to Spain to prevent a mutiny, when he had a look at the horizon and catched sight of a land. He then decided to get closer and a few white lines in the mountain attracted his attention, as they were probably waterfalls. He finally tied up in that area of the island. It was definitely the Carbet waterfalls. Christopher Columbus named the island Santa María de Guadalupe after the Virgin of Guadalupe in Caceres, Spain.

Centuries later, they would call a village where they landed “Sainte-Marie” in remembrance of the original name of the island. Nowadays, a monument for the one who discovered the island to the Occidental World can be seen nearby. The village belongs to the city of Capesterre Belle Eau, which name means “cape at the East of the land with beautiful water”. Its waterfalls keep attracting many visitors all year round, and it’s worth it! The biggest one is easily accessible for the general public and the smallest ones are suitable for people who are fond of mountaineering.

Guadeloupe is an archipielago of 6 islands situated in the Caribbean Sea. 1628 km² which are seen by many people as a paradise on Earth for its climate, scenery, fauna and flora. It can be pretty weird to admit that these territories belong to the European Union and, as part of a whole, the currency is the euro.

After the Spaniards set foot in the island, the British and the French fought several times for this piece of land in the middle of nowhere, which was seen as a strategic place: the door to the Caribbean Sea. When the French defeated in Canada, they agreed with Great Britain that they would leave the mainland Canada if the British recognised that Guadeloupe will belong to France for ever.

Was it a big mistake? The agreement was part of the Treaty of Paris signed in 1763. After the 2nd World War, the population was called to claim the French nationality as a recognition of the role they played during the war.Guadeloupe took the most important decision in its recent history and became a French Overseas Department and Region.

Nowadays the archipielago of Guadeloupe, with about 400.000 inhabitants, stands proudly as part of the EU territory. Its two main islands, united by two bridges, form the perfect shape of a butterfly. A distinction which can differentiate the archipielago from the many islands of the Lesser Antilles.