St Vincent and the Grenadines is home to an active volcano, La Soufrière. Located at the north end of St Vincent island, it is 1,234 metres high, and is classified as a stratovolcano, or composite volcano, meaning that its layers have built up over a number of eruptions, characterised by its steep sides.
The volcano has erupted regularly since 1718, most recently in 1979. An eruption in 1902 caused a catastrophic loss of life, and most of the 1,680 victims were Caribs, causing the destruction of much of Carib culture. Geologists were able to give a warning of the last eruption in 1979, and fortunately this prevented any deaths. [Read more...]
