Pitons (Saint Lucia)

Pitons Management Area
Pitons Management Area
	Aerial view of The Pitons
	Location in Saint Lucia
Location	Southwestern Saint Lucia
Nearest city	Soufrière and Choiseul
Coordinates	13°48′36″N 61°3′56″W / 13.81000°N 61.06556°W
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, viii
Designated	2004 (28th session)
Reference no.	1161
State Party	Saint Lucia
Region	Latin 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, Saint Lucia. Soufrière and Choiseul Quarter 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.

Biology

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]

Geology

The volcanic complex includes a geothermal field with sulphurous fumaroles and hot springs.

In popular culture

Saint Lucia's local brand of beer is named after the Pitons.^[2] Also they are well known for being able to get up close, this is one of the major tourist attractions.