Dominica's protected areas [VIDEO]

There are a number of terrestrial national parks and reserves on the island. In fact, there are two reserves and three national parks. Below you'll find information on the national parks. 

For your information, the reserves are: Central Forest Reserve, Northern Forest Reserve and the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve.

Morne Trois Pitons National Park

Morne Trois Pitons National Park has been a World Heritage Site (since 1997) located in Dominica. This 17,000 acre area was established as a national park by the Dominican government in July 1975, the first to be legally established in the country. 

The National Park is named after its highest mountain, Morne Trois Pitons, meaning mountain of three peaks.

The park is a significant area of volcanic activity and features within the part include the Valley of Desolation, a region of boiling mud ponds and small geysers; the Boiling Lake, Titou Gorge, and Emerald Pool. Boeri Lake and Freshwater Lake are also found in this park.

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Morne Diablotin National Park

Morne Diablotin National Park is a national park in the northern mountain ranges of Dominica. The park comprises 8,242 acres, amounting to 4.4% of the nation's area. It was established in January 2000, primarily to protect the habitat of the endangered Sisserou Parrot, an endemic bird species that is a national symbol of Dominica.

The park is home to 1,447-meter high Morne Diablotin, the tallest mountain on the island and the second highest mountain in the Lesser Antilles. During the 18th century, the land was home to at least six different encampments of escaped slaves.

Cabrits National Park

*Not mentioned in the video above

Cabrits National Park is on a peninsula at the north end of Dominica, north of Portsmouth. The park protects tropical forest, coral reefs and wetlands. There are hiking trails and an English garrison called Fort Shirley. Cabrits National Park occupies 1,313 acres and was established in 1986.

Cabrits is an extinct volcano that was once its own island, separate from mainland Dominica. It was connected to Dominica by the sweeping in of material from Douglas Bay and Prince Rupert Bay.

The word Cabrits is derived from "goat" in Spanish, French and Portuguese, and is a reference to the animal that has been indigenous to Cabrits. Goats were introduced to the island by sailors, who set them free on the island to grow, so that there would be meat available when they returned.

Here's the images I captured while shooting the video:

© 2020 Yuri A Jones | Light the Way, captured over Concord, Dominica (available as a canvas print here.)