GUNUNG · Saint Vincent dan Grenadines

La Soufrière (Saint Vincent)

La Soufrière / Soufrière Saint Vincent

Kawah La Soufrière di Pulau Saint Vincent (foto gunung api, dari Wikimedia Commons). Photo: source

Information

Elevation: 1.220 m
Country: Saint Vincent dan Grenadines (VC)
Location / Range: Busur Vulkanik Antilles Kecil — puncak tertinggi Pulau Saint Vincent
Mountain type: Stratovolcano aktif
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 13.3333, -61.1833
Difficulty: Menantang (jalur Windward/Rabacca ≈ 6–7 jam pulang-pergi menembus hutan; jalur Leeward lebih curam)
Best Season: Desember–Mei (musim kering); cek status vulkanik terbaru sebelum mendaki
Permits & Rules: Pemandu lokal sangat disarankan; ikuti arahan National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) & Forestry Department pasca-erupsi 2021
Hazards: Status gunung api aktif (erupsi eksplosif terakhir April 2021), abu & gas, tepi kawah curam, kabut, dan medan berubah drastis akibat kubah lava baru

Description

La Soufrière (about 1,220 m) is an active stratovolcano and the highest point on the island of Saint Vincent, in the eastern-Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It has had eight recorded eruptions since 1718; the 1902 eruption — almost simultaneous with the Mont Pelée disaster — killed roughly 1,600 people, followed by eruptions in 1979 and the 2020–2021 sequence. The latest activity began with the slow growth of a lava dome on 27 December 2020 and peaked in a series of explosive blasts between 9 and 22 April 2021, blanketing the island with ash and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands. The hike to the crater rim usually follows one of two trails: the Windward (eastern) route from the Rabacca area, longer and through rainforest and bamboo groves, or the steeper Leeward (western) route. The crater landscape changed dramatically after 2021, and the summit offers a vast steaming crater and sweeping Caribbean coastal views.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Jalur Leeward (sisi barat)

Menantang (lebih curam)

≈5–6 jam pulang-pergi

An alternative from the leeward (western) side of the island; a shorter but steeper trail to the crater. As with the Windward route, the crater landscape changed dramatically after the 2020–2021 eruption, and hikers are advised to use a guide and follow the authorities' guidance.

Source

Jalur Windward (Rabacca, sisi timur)

Menantang

≈6–7 jam pulang-pergi

The most common route to the La Soufrière crater rim, starting on the windward (eastern) side near Rabacca. It is the longer trail, passing through plantations, rainforest, and bamboo groves before climbing to the crater edge. A local guide is recommended and the volcanic status must be checked, as the last explosive eruption was as recent as April 2021.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Hiking La Soufrière on Saint Vincent means climbing a genuinely active volcano — its last explosive eruption was as recent as April 2021. Two main trails lead to the crater rim: the Windward route from the Rabacca area (eastern, longer, through rainforest and bamboo groves) and the steeper Leeward route (western). Experience videos capture ascents both before and after the 2021 eruption, how dramatically the crater landscape changed, and the importance of hiring a local guide and checking the latest volcanic status. On-the-ground reporting also documents the eruption's impact on the island's residents.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.