Ecology and Wildlife of St. Lucia
Whether in early morning mist or from the sea, the Pitons always look dramatic

St. Lucia possesses a topography and ecology of stunning beauty, matched by no other location in the Caribbean. The island's pride in its natural resources is evident in the country's ongoing protection and conservation efforts. In the mountainous interior lies the enormous National Rain Forest, and the island's protected coastal sights include the breathtaking, unforgettable spires of Les Pitons.

All sorts of nature hikes, tours, and programs have been developed to showcase these peerless assets, allowing visitors to enjoy the island without harming its complex and fragile environment.
St. Lucia's environmental philosophy also extends beyond its shoreline to the protection of its beautiful coral reefs, with their rich and diverse tropical sea life. The government has created four preservation areas, encompassing all of the island's outstanding reefs. Water sports enthusiasts, divers, and boat owners are required to purchase a permit before entering the reserve, and the fees are used for repairs to the reef and preserving threatened marine species.

The Pitons: Located near Soufriere, these primeval twin peaks, topping 2,000 feet, are St. Lucia's most famous landmark. Only the most daring climbers have ventured an ascent to their summits, but they can be seen in all their glory from Mt. Gimie or from the decks of a boat offshore.
National Rain Forest: Of particular appeal to bird watchers, hikers and nature lovers, it covers 19,000 acres of lush mountains and valleys. It is home to giant ferns, birds of paradise and many other indigenous tree species, exotic flowers and fruits, and its paths are strewn with tiny bromeliads, wild orchids and mushrooms. Among the rare and beautiful birds adding colour to the scene are the brightly-hued St. Lucia Parrot, known locally as the "Jacquot," the White Breasted Thrasher, the St. Lucia Peewee, and the St. Lucia Oriole.
For organized tours, contact the Forest and Lands Department at 450-2231.

The dormant volcano site provides two completely different vistas  - the main site is stark and bare with craters of bubbling mud and water all around. behind the crater, however, warm water flows, there is a small waterfall and local people take the opportunity for recreation.
May I take this opportunity to remind visitors to this and all other destinations that people quite rightly object to being constantly filmed by tourists as if they  were an object in a zoo.
I always ask before taking pictures of people, and in the main have been fortunate, but always stop when asked, to prevent annoyance.

The Sulphur Springs: Now dormant, it is the world's only drive-in volcano. A tour of its bubbly, steamy sulphur springs offers a direct and fascinating lesson in the violent geology of the Caribbean Rim
In this picture there are people standing over the springs.
This is no longer allowed ever since one of the tour guides, leading a tour across the  fragile surface, had a mishap.  To demonstrate how thin the ground was, he jumped up and down on the crust, and consequently broke through, sinking to his waist in the boiling black water.  He lived, and according to our guide, can still walk, but this was enough for the authorities to ban people going out onto the crater.

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