Soufrière District Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Soufrière District
Districts

Outline of Soufrière Quarter
Country	St. Lucia
Area
• Total	58.4 km² (22.5 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	7,657
• Density	131/km² (340/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:LC	LC-10

Soufrière is a district located on the southwest coast of Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia is an island country in the West Indies. Soufrière was once the capital city of Saint Lucia when the French ruled the island.

Today, Soufrière is a small fishing town. It is also becoming a popular place for tourists to visit. Many people come to see its unique "drive-in" volcano. Other fun places include the Diamond Botanical Gardens with a beautiful waterfall. This waterfall was even shown briefly in the movie Superman II! You can also visit historic mineral baths and nearby beaches like Anse Chastanet and Malgretout.

History of Soufrière
Local Government
Fun Places to Visit
Gallery
See also

History of Soufrière

The name Soufrière comes from the French language. The French were in charge of Saint Lucia during the 1700s. The word "Soufrière" means a volcanic area or "sulphur in the air." This name makes sense because the area has a lot of volcanic activity.

Famous Connections

A plantation near Soufrière, called Anse Mamin, was once owned by Gaspard-Joseph Tascher de La Pagerie. He was the father of Josephine de Beauharnais. Josephine later became the Empress of France! She was married to Napoleon Bonaparte. Historians have different ideas about where she was born. However, it is known that Empress Josephine spent a lot of her childhood on her father's plantation in Saint Lucia.

The Pitons

South of Soufrière, you can see two huge mountains called the Pitons. These are Gros Piton and Petit Piton. They are actually giant volcanic plugs that rise straight out of the ocean. The Pitons are so special that they are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many visitors enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving around these amazing natural wonders.

Soufrière in Movies

Soufrière has been a filming location for several movies.

In 1985, the comedy movie Water used Soufrière as the fictional town of Port Agnes.
The movies Creature and White Squall were also filmed in this beautiful district.

Local Government

The Soufrière District is an area that elects its own representative. Since July 2021, Emma Hippolyte has been the Parliamentary Representative for the Soufrière area. She represents the district in the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia, which is like the country's parliament.

Fun Places to Visit

There are many exciting attractions within the Soufrière District:

The Pitons: These are the two huge volcanic mountains, Gros Piton and Petit Piton. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and great for exploring.
Sulfur Springs: Soufrière is located inside the caldera (a large volcanic crater) of the dormant Qualibou volcano. This means the area has a lot of heat from underground. You can visit the "drive-through volcano" where you'll see hot springs and fumaroles (steam vents).
Soufrière Estate: Also known as Diamond Estate, this is an old plantation. It has a lovely botanical garden, sulphur baths, and the beautiful Diamond Falls.
Fond Doux Estate: This is a working plantation where cacao (used to make chocolate) is still grown and processed. You can learn how chocolate starts!
St Lucia's Rainforest: The area has several rainforest trails. You can hike and enjoy views of the surroundings. You might also spot amazing wildlife and see waterfalls like the Enbas Saut Falls.
Anse Chastanet: This is a resort with a beautiful beach. There are also trails along the coast for walking and enjoying the views.