Mount Pelée facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Pelée |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,397 m (4,583 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,395 m (4,577 ft) |
| Listing | Ribu |
| Naming | |
| Pronunciation | PƏ-lay |
| Geography | |
 Mount Pelee
Location in Martinique
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| Location | Martinique |
| Geology | |
| Formed by | Subduction zone volcanism |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic arc | Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc |
| Last eruption | 1929–1932 |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Part of | Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern Martinique |
| Criteria | Natural: viii, x |
| Inscription | 2023 (47th Session) |
Mount Pelée, also known as Mont Pelée, is an active volcano located on the northern part of Martinique. Martinique is a beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea, part of France. This volcano is made up of many layers of hardened volcanic ash and solid lava. Its last big eruption happened between 1929 and 1932.
Mount Pelée is famous for a terrible eruption in 1902. On May 8, 1902, the volcano erupted with great force. It completely destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre in just a few minutes. Sadly, between 29,000 and 30,000 people lost their lives, making it one of the worst volcanic disasters of the 20th century.
Only three people were known to survive this main eruption. One survivor, Ludger Sylbaris, was safe in a strong, stone jail cell. Another, Léon Compère-Léandre, lived on the edge of the city and suffered serious burns. A young girl named Havivra Da Ifrile also survived by escaping to a nearby sea cave in a boat. She also got burns from the falling ash.
In 2023, Mount Pelée and its surrounding forests became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it is a very special place recognized for its natural importance.
Contents
Where is Mount Pelée Located?
Mount Pelée was formed by something called a subduction zone. This happens when one of Earth's huge plates, like the South American Plate, slides underneath another, the Caribbean Plate. This process creates a long, curved line of volcanoes called an island arc.
The Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc is about 850 kilometers (530 miles) long. It stretches between Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Many other active volcanoes are part of this chain. Some examples include La Soufrière on Saint Vincent and Soufrière Hills on Montserrat. There's even an underwater volcano called Kick 'em Jenny nearby!
How Mount Pelée Formed
Scientists who study volcanoes, called volcanologists, believe Mount Pelée grew in three main stages.
Early Stages of the Volcano
The first stage was called "Paléo-Pelée." During this time, Mount Pelée was a typical stratovolcano. Its cone was built up from many layers of lava and broken volcanic rocks. You can still see parts of this ancient cone on the volcano's northern side today.
Intermediate Period and Big Changes
The second stage began about 100,000 years ago. After a long quiet period, new activity started. This included the creation of a lava dome called Morne Macouba. Later, a large bowl-shaped hollow, a caldera, formed there. During this time, some eruptions created dangerous pyroclastic flows. These are fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic debris. They were similar to the flows that destroyed Saint-Pierre in 1902. About 25,000 years ago, a huge part of the volcano's side collapsed. This created a massive volcanic landslide, much like what happened at Mount St. Helens in 1980.
Modern Mount Pelée and Recent Activity
The most recent stage built most of the volcano we see today. It added layers of light, porous rock called pumice and more pyroclastic flow deposits. Over the last 5,000 years, Mount Pelée has erupted more than 30 times!
About 3,000 years ago, a large pumice eruption created the Étang Sec caldera. This is a crater whose name means "Dry Pond" in French. The famous 1902 eruption happened inside this Étang Sec crater. That eruption produced many pyroclastic flows and a new lava dome that filled the crater. The volcano kept erupting until July 1905, then it became quiet until 1929.
On September 16, 1929, Mount Pelée started erupting again. This time, everyone in the danger zone was quickly moved to safety. The 1929 eruption also formed a new lava dome in the Étang Sec caldera. It sent pyroclastic flows down the Blanche River valley. This eruption was not as violent as the 1902 one. It ended in late 1932.
Watching Mount Pelée Today
Mount Pelée is still an active volcano. Scientists called volcanologists and geophysicists from the IPGP watch it all the time. They use special equipment to detect small volcano tectonic earthquakes that happen every year. Even before the 1902 eruption, there were signs like increased steam vents, called fumaroles, in the crater. Small steam eruptions in 1792 and 1851 also showed the volcano was active.
The town of Saint-Pierre was never fully rebuilt after the 1902 disaster. However, some smaller villages have grown up in its place. In 2017, about 4,123 people lived in the area of Saint-Pierre.
In December 2020, the Martinique Volcano Observatory (MVO) changed Mount Pelée's alert level. It went from Green (Normal) to Yellow (Restless). This was because of more earthquakes under the volcano since April 2019. Scientists also saw new tremor signals in November 2020. This was the first sign of activity since the 1929–1932 eruption.
The MVO explained that the earthquakes were happening closer to the surface, about 4-5 kilometers (2.5-3 miles) below the summit. Deeper earthquakes, more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) below sea level, also started in April 2019. These deeper quakes might mean new hot, liquid rock (magmatic fluids) was moving deep inside the volcano. The tremors in November 2020 could mean the volcano's hot water system was becoming active again.
Even though the volcano's shape was not changing, these different types of seismic signals showed a clear change. The volcano's activity was increasing from its normal quiet state.
In May 2025, the Observatoire Volcanologique et Sismologique de la Martinique (OVSM) reported more earthquakes. Between May 2 and May 9, 2025, there were 256 earthquakes. A total of 632 earthquakes happened during the entire month of May 2025. Scientists believe these earthquakes show magma moving deep inside the volcano. However, there were no signs of the volcano changing shape or gas chemistry. This means an eruption was not expected in the immediate future. Mount Pelée is a dangerous volcano, so scientists continue to watch it very closely.
Amazing Wildlife Around the Volcano
Mount Pelée is home to some unique animals.
Unique Frogs and Birds
The Martinique volcano frog (Allobates chalcopis) lives only on Mount Pelée. It is the only frog of its kind found on an oceanic island.
A large area of the mountain and its forests, stretching to the sea, is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA). This means it's a crucial place for many bird species. These include:
- Bridled quail doves
- Lesser Antillean swifts
- Green and purple-throated caribs (types of hummingbirds)
- Blue headed and Antillean crested hummingbirds
- Caribbean elaenias
- Lesser Antillean flycatchers
- Lesser Antillean pewees
- Scaly-breasted and pearly-eyed thrashers
- Brown and grey tremblers
- Rufous-throated solitaires
- Antillean euphonias
- Martinique orioles
- Lesser Antillean saltators
- Lesser Antillean bullfinches
A World Heritage Site
On September 16, 2023, the volcanoes and forests of Mount Pelée and the pitons of northern Martinique became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This special status recognizes the area's outstanding natural value. The volcanic mountains cover about 12% of Martinique's land. It is the 7th natural site in France to receive this honor. Being a World Heritage Site can also help tourism and the local economy. It is expected to increase the number of visitors by 30 to 40%.
Stories and Books About Mount Pelée
The dramatic history of Mount Pelée has inspired many writers.
- The Day The World Ended by Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan Witts (1969). This book tells the story of the 1902 eruption using historical records and survivor accounts.
- Texaco by Patrick Chamoiseau (1992). This novel covers generations of Martinique's history. A character named Esternome sees the volcano's destruction firsthand. His daughter, Marie-Sophie, shares his experiences and the lasting impact of the event.
- Ti-Coyo and his shark by Clément Richer (1941). This fable is set before, during, and after the 1902 eruption. It tells the humorous story of a boy named Ti-Coyo and his pet shark, who helps him become rich and even saves him during the eruption.
See also
- List of volcanic eruptions by death toll
- Mount Pinatubo
- Mount Vesuvius
