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Pitons (Saint Lucia)

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This article is about the Piton mountains. For the rock climbing tool, see Piton.
Pitons Management Area
Aerial view of The Pitons
Map showing the location of Pitons Management Area
Map showing the location of Pitons Management Area
Location in Saint Lucia
LocationSouthwestern Saint Lucia
Nearest citySoufrière and Choiseul
TypeNatural
Criteriavii, viii
Designated2004 (28th session)
Reference no.1161
State PartySaint Lucia
RegionLatin America and the Caribbean

The Pitons are two mountainous volcanic plugs, volcanic spires, located in Saint Lucia. The Gros Piton is 771 metres (2,530 ft)* high, and the Petit Piton is 743 metres (2,438 ft)* high; they are linked by the Piton Mitan ridge. The Pitons are a World Heritage Site 2,909 ha (7,190 acres) in size and located near the town of Soufrière.

Geography

The Pitons (Peaks in French) are located near the towns of Soufrière and Choiseul on the southwestern coast of the island. They are in the electoral districts of three and ten. The Pitons are located on either side of the Jalousie Bay.

Geology

The volcanic complex includes a geothermal field with sulphurous fumeroles and hot springs. Coral reefs cover almost 60% of the site’s marine area. A survey has revealed 168 species of finfish, 60 species of cnidaria, including corals, eight molluscs, 14 sponges, 11 echinoderms, 15 arthropods and eight annelid worms. The dominant terrestrial vegetation is tropical moist forest grading to subtropical wet forest, with small areas of dry forest and wet elfin woodland on the summits. At least 148 plant species have been recorded on Gros Piton, 97 on Petit Piton and the intervening ridge, among them eight rare tree species. The Gros Piton is home to some 27 bird species (five of them endemic), three indigenous rodents, one opossum, three bats, eight reptiles and three amphibians.[1]

Saint Lucia's local brand of beer is named after the Pitons.[2]

See also

  • Pitons from northern view point
    Pitons from northern view point
  • Gros Piton seen from the Piton Mitan ridge
    Gros Piton seen from the Piton Mitan ridge
  • Petit Piton seen from the Piton Mitan ridge
    Petit Piton seen from the Piton Mitan ridge
  • Gros Piton (left) and Petit Piton seen from the north-east
    Gros Piton (left) and Petit Piton seen from the north-east
  • Pitons in 1903
    Pitons in 1903

References

  1. ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1161
  2. ^ http://pitonbeerstlucia.com/home.asp
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