Changes in Volcanic Features

Geography Miss Hosein

Objectives

Volcanic St. St.

Landscapes Vincent Lucia
Volcanic Landscapes
Volcanic Landscapes

The island arc in the Caribbean is associated with a convergent

plate margin. most of these islands have a volcanic origin but many
volcanic features have been altered by erosion over time:
• Rivers cut channels down the sides of a volcanic cone
• Loose material, such as ash, is eroded quickly
• Lava may cool to form a hard rock, which resists erosion for a long
period of time
• Lava and intrusive features form high ground long after the rest of
the volcano has been eroded away
St. Vincent
Soufriere, St. Vincent

• This is a composite volcano built up from layers of ash and lava.

• The volcano is active and has erupted nine times since 1700 with
the most recent being 2021.
• The mountain’s volcanic features have not been greatly altered by
erosion and are still easily recognized.
• It is mostly conical in shape like most volcanoes.
• There are ridges of high ground that were formed as a result of
lava flowing down the side of the volcano.
Soufriere, St. Vincent

• Small rivers and streams that flow down the side of the volcanic
cone have eroded narrow steep-sided valleys.
• At the top of the volcano, there is a crater.
• A lava dome was created after eruptions.
• Around the crater is a caldera which was formed when the top of
the mountain collapsed during a large eruption.
• The 2021 effusive eruption saw the creation of a dome in the
caldera.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia

• St. Lucia is a volcanic island with volcanic activity taking place

several million years ago so the older volcanic landforms have
been greatly altered by erosion.
• The north of St. Lucia was a centre for volcanic activity from 5 to
20 million years ago. There are no craters or volcanic cones now.
• Deep valleys have been eroded in the interior. For example:
Roseau River.
• Ridges of high ground are influenced by dykes which are resistant
to erosion.
St. Lucia

• The Moule a Chique headland at the southern tip of the island is

made of volcanic ash and lava from 5 to 10 million years ago.
• Mount Gimie and its neighbouring peaks are probably the eroded
remnants of a composite volcanic cone that formed about 2
million years ago.
St. Lucia

• In the south western part of the island, the volcanic centre around the
town of Soufriere have been active much more recently and can become
frequent again.
• There are several viscous lava domes which were formed in the past 300
000 years. The Pitons represent the inner core of two domes; loose
material that formerly surrounded the core has been removed by erosion.
• Between 20 000 and 40 000 years ago, a series of eruptions produced
pyroclastic flows of hot gas, ash and lava fragments. These left thick
deposits, which blanket much of south eastern St. Lucia as a gently
sloping plateau. Rivers have cut deep sided valleys in these easily eroded
rocks and waves have formed steep coastal cliffs.
St. Lucia

• Within the caldera there is hot rock close to the surface. The St.
Lucia Soufriere is a fumarole or hot spring. Water sinks into the
ground, is heated by the rocks below and rises to the surface as
steam, carrying Sulphur and other minerals. Sulphur deposits on
the ground prevent plant growth near the fumarole.