|
|
Sulphur Springs Volcano St Lucia |
|
|
St Lucia
is said to have the only
"drive-in" volcano in
the world! The road runs
right up to and through
the crater of the
Soufriere Volcano. Also
known locally as the
"sulphur springs", it
has become a major
tourist attraction.
The crater emits steam
and sulphur with boiling
mud and water bubbling
away just a few metres
from the tourists
(beware of the smell of
rotten eggs!) behind a
wooden fence that would
appear to offer
absolutely no protection
should the volcano
erupt. The last eruption
occurred in the late
eighteenth century and
the volcano is
considered to be
dormant; unlike the
highly active
Soufriere Volcano of
the same name on the
island of
Montserrat. |
|
 |
|
Until
quite recently you would
have been allowed to
walk over the crater
which is covered in a
thin crust.
Unfortunately, one of
the volcano guides fell
in and now visitors are
requested to stay behind
the fence.
There is
a stream running through
the crater and a little
further down are bathing
pools which are reputed
to have therapeutic
qualities for the skin.
The
sulphur springs emit a
mixture of iron, calcium
oxide, sulphur, copper
oxide, carbon and
magnesium to create the
pungent smell and stain
the rocks a green
colour. Molten volcanic
lava is not part of the
toxic mix; otherwise the
carter would not be safe
to visit. |
|
Boiling
mud and steam |
Hot
sulphur spring |
|
Overall
an interesting place to
visit. Where else can
you drive to a volcano,
park up and walk a few
steps to the crater
floor? Visiting
cruise ship passengers can book a
full day shore excursion
(6 to 7 hours) which
will take in the
Soufriere
Volcano (sulphur
springs), the
Pitons, a walk
in
the
Diamond Botanical
Gardens, lunch in
Soufriere and a stop
at
Marigot Bay. The
trip down the
west coast road through
the
rainforest takes a
couple of hours from
Castries via
Anse La Raye
(image) and these excursions are
easily the most popular
in St Lucia. |
|
Travel, holiday, vacation and
cruise guide to
Soufriere Sulphur
Springs Volcano in St
Lucia, Caribbean
All text and images are Copyright
Paradise Islands
org 2009. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The Pitons |
|
 |
|
Castries |
|
 |
|
Rodney Bay |
|
 |
|
Marigot Bay |
|
 |
|
Diamond Botanical
Gardens |
|
 |
|
Rainforest |
|
 |
|
More Photos |
|
|
