The area surrounding and to the south of Dominica's second highest mountain, Morne Trois Pitons, was first proposed as a forest reserve in 1952. It was designated a National Park in July 1975 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997.
Geographic Location: 15°16'-15°23'N, 61°17'-61°21'W
Area: 6,857 hectars (16,940 acres) or 26.4 sq. miles
Layou River, Dominica
Vegetation Zones: Six natural vegetation zones are identified within the park.
1. Elfin Woodland grows at the highest elevation, above 3,000 ft., and is almost constantly covered by mist, subject to wind, high rainfall and cool temperatures. The vegetation consists ofmosses, ferns, shrubs, some palms, Lobelia Cirisifolia and stunted Kaklin trees Clusia Venosa covered by lichens.
2. Montane Thicket is transitional between elfin woodland and montane forests, dominated by spindly trees about 12-15m high with small canopies. The most common tree found on steep slopes is Podocarpus Coriaceus, the island's only native conifer. In more level areas, the main tree is Amanoa Caribaea.
3. Montane Rainforest grows above 2,000 ft. and is often in cloud cover or mist. Most trees here are also to be found in mature rain forest, though much reduced in stature. Many trees have arial roots and are home to mosses, lichens, orchids and a variety of bromeliads. Common among the ground vegetation is fern brake and razorgrass (a sedge). Non-vascular epiphytes cover most montane rain forest trees and plants.
4. Mature Rainforest grows below 1,500 ft. This zone contains the most luxuriant
growth, with trees averaging 100 ft. in height. The massive tree trunks are often littered with bromeliads and various species of anthurium. Some, like the Chataignier, are heavily buttressed, whilst the Gommier is straight-boled. Also dominant are Dacryodes Excelsa, Sloanea spp., and Licania Ternatensis. Due to the thick canopy, there is little ground vegetation other than patches of Selaginella fern.
5. Secondary Rainforest grows in areas once cultivated but are now abandoned, or in areas which have suffered landslides or other natural disasters. Most common here are tree ferns, of which there are 4 varieties, and Bois Canon. Other widely found species include Cyathea spp., Miconia guianensis, Simarouba amara and Chimarrhis cymosa. A less dense and often broken canopy permits shrubs and small plants to grow freely.
6. Seasonal Formations occur at lower elevations and contain trees which blossom spectacularly in the dryer season. Also found here are ariods, orchids, Z'ailes Mouches, ferns and a variety of vines which rapidly proliferate.
Soil: There are three types of soils groups represented within the park, allophanoid clays, kandoid, and protosols, which are classified by the degree of chemical weathering they have undergone.
Near Portsmouth, Dominica
Topography: The Morne Trois Pitons mountain is the basaltic remains of a former volcano rising to 4,672 feet above sea level and within only 5 miles of the sea. The landscape is characterised by volcanic piles with precipitous slopes, and deeply incised valleys. The Valley of Desolation contains many fumaroles, hot springs, mud pots, sulphur vents and the Boiling Lake, the second largest of its kind in the world, at an altitude of 2,500 ft. This valley is a large amphitheatre surrounded by mountains and consisting of at least three separate craters where steam vents, small ponds, and hot springs bubble up through the ground. Boiling Lake is surrounded by cliffs and is almost always covered by clouds of steam. During the brief intervals when the breeze clears some of the steam, the water in the centre can be seen bubbling and churning, making dull roaring sounds. It's water level and colour vary. Water from the Boling Lake flows into the White River, named because of its pale opaque colour, which continues beyond the park to join the Pointe Mulatre River flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.
