Pitons (Saint Lucia)

The Pitons are two mountainous volcanic plugs, volcanic spires, located in Saint Lucia. Gros Piton is high and Petit Piton is high; they are linked by the Piton Mitan ridge. The Pitons are a World Heritage Site, in size, and located near the town of Soufrière.

Geography

The Pitons are located near the towns of Soufrière, Saint Lucia, Soufrière, and Choiseul Quarter Choiseul on the southwestern coast of the island. They are in the electoral districts of three and ten. The Pitons are located on either side of Jalousie Bay.

Flora and fauna

Coral reefs cover almost 60% of the site's marine area. A survey has revealed 168 species of finfish, 60 species of cnidaria, including corals, eight mollusks, 14 sponges, 11 echinoderms, 15 arthropods, and eight annelid worms. The dominant terrestrial vegetation is tropical moist forest grading to subtropical wet forest, with small areas of dry forest and wet elfin woodland on the summits. At least 148 plant species have been recorded on Gros Piton, 97 on Petit Piton, and the intervening ridge, among them eight rare tree species. The Gros Piton is home to some 27 bird species (five of them endemic), three indigenous rodents, one opossum, three bats, eight reptiles, and three amphibians.

Geology

The volcanic complex includes a geothermal field with sulphurous fumaroles and hot springs.

Gros Piton

Gros Piton is at the southern end of Pitons Bay. It is the second-highest peak on Saint Lucia, after Mount Gimie.

Gros Piton can be climbed without ropes or mountaineering experience. One can hike to the summit and come back down to sea level within several hours. Local guides are available for hire (typically through the resorts) and are trained by the government to have basic knowledge of the languages common among tourists and of the medical procedures required in case of common accidents.

Petit Piton

Petit Piton lies towards the middle of Soufrière Bay, south of Soufrière and north of Gros Piton.

Petit Piton was first climbed in 1878 by Abdome Deligny. The islands of Dominica, Martinique, Barbados, and St. Vincent can be seen from its peak.

In popular culture

Saint Lucia's local brand of beer made by the Windward & Leeward Brewery is named after the Pitons.

Both mountains are an attraction for hikers although the Gros Piton peak is more popular since it is an easier climb and tours are offered by The Soufrière Foundation, a non-profit group that is dedicated to helping preserve the Pitons Management Area.

Gallery

File:Gros Piton and Petit Piton in Saint Lucia.JPG, The Pitons, Soufrière, and the Caribbean Sea
File:View of Petit Piton from Gros Piton.JPG, Petit Piton from Gros Piton
Image:The Pitons at Soufriere Saint Lucia.jpg, Pitons from the northern viewpoint
Image:GrosPiton.JPG, Gros Piton seen from the Piton Mitan ridge
Image:PetitPiton.JPG, Petit Piton seen from the Piton Mitan ridge
Image:two pitons.jpg, Gros Piton (left) and Petit Piton seen from the north-east
File:The Pitons of St Lucia YORYM-TA0184.jpg, Pitons in 1903
File:Les Pitons de Ste. Alousie.jpg, St Lucia Pitons drawing from 17th - 18th century
Image:Petit piton panorama.jpg, Panorama View from the top of Gros Piton, looking north. Gives a view of the Petit Piton and northern St. Lucia.
File:St Lucia Pitons 2008.jpg, Pitons from the ocean

See also

*Geography of Saint Lucia

References

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Volcanoes of Saint Lucia
Volcanic plugs of North America
Mountains of Saint Lucia
World Heritage Sites in Saint Lucia