The Pitons - Saint Lucia
Posted by: 
elyob
N 13° 48.400 W 061° 04.200
20P E 708630 N 1527183
The Pitons are located along the southwestern coast of the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia.
Waymark Code: WMJQG2
Location: Saint Lucia
Date Posted: 12/18/2013
Views: 19
The Pitons of Saint Lucia may be the best known volcanic plugs on earth. The Pitons are so important, they became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004: Pitons Management Area. The area encompasses 2909 hectares. Therefore, there are many locations for viewing and waymarking. The town of Soufriere and the resort of Jalousie Plantation are just two possible sites to visit by road or sea.
The volcanic plugs are eroded lava dome cores now covered by tropical moist forest. Other remnants of the collapsed stratovolcano include active volcanic features such as sulfur hot springs and mud baths, some promoted by the national tourist board as the world's only drive-thru volcano.
Geologists refer to the remnants of this huge collapsed stratovolcano as the Soufriere Volcanic Centre. That stratovolcano or composite volcano sat/sits above only one part of a 700km-long underthrusting zone found along the Lesser Antilles islands where crustal plates meet. Between past eruptions, the stratovolcano built up layer after layer on hardened lava and ash, giving The Pitons their steep profile.
The Pitons today tower above the Qualibou Depression, a caldera produced by structural collapse (gravity slide). The aforementioned sulfur springs are located in the Qualibou Depression. According to documents supporting the World Heritage Site status, other volcanic features of The Pitons include lava flows, pyroclastic deposits and explosion craters.
Waymark is confirmed to be publicly accessible: yes
Access fee (In local currency): .00
Requires a high clearance vehicle to visit.: no
Requires 4x4 vehicle to visit.: no
Public Transport available: yes
Website reference: [Web Link]
Parking Coordinates: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
No specific requirements, just have fun visiting the waymark.