Description  

Morne Trois Pitons National Park covers 6,857 hectares. It was created in 1975 and is located in the center-south of the island. Its altitude varies from 152 m to more than 1300 m, with the highest areas located in the center of the Park. Le Morne Trois Pitons, the highest point, is one of the 5 volcanoes in the Park. It rises to 1342 m above sea level. 

Resulting from a recent volcanic formation, the Park is made up of tip-shaped basaltic remains belonging to an ancient volcano. 

By itself it constitutes the best example of volcanic island ecosystems in the Caribbean. There are active volcanic and geothermal areas (the Boiling Lake and the Valley of Desolation), mountains, geysers, gray mud, freshwater lakes (Freshwater and Boeri, the largest on the island), rivers, streams of fresh water (Emerald Pool, Middleham falls… .), tropical forest and cloud or pygmy forest, in the highest peaks. 

In the southern part of the Park there are three other volcanoes: Morne Watt (1,224 m), Morne Micotrin or Macaque (1,221 m) and Morne Anglais (1,123 m) all classified as “dormant” but not extinct. 

Due to this wealth of landscapes and soil, it has the richest biological diversity in the Lesser Antilles. This richness and its rarity are recognized worldwide and classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1997.  

Biodiversité

We can distinguish at least five characterized plant zones in the Park: the humid, semi-humid forest, the deciduous forest, the mountain forest and the cloudy or pygmy forest, a very rare type. 

In tropical rainforest areas, common vegetation includes trees such as chestnut (Castanea sativa), candlewood (Dacryodes excelsa), white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), castor bean (Ricinus communis), bastard mahoe (Sterculia caribaea), kapok (Ceiba pentandra) and the large leaf bois bandé or pigeon berry (Richeria grandis). Tree ferns and epiphytes such as wild anthuriums or tailflowers, orchids and the endemic Pitcairnia micotrinensis belonging to the bromeliad family, also abound. In the montane forest, the vegetation is shortened and the trees have a smaller circumference. 

The pygmy forests are characterized by having scrub-type vegetation, they are practically impassable (except for pygmies) because there the trees intertwine. Its vegetation is dominated by kaklin (Clusia mangle) and epiphytic ferns. 

As a whole, the diverse forests of this Park are in a considerably good state of conservation, the park is known for its rich flora, partially endemic, and its notable fauna. 

It is home to Dominica’s largest ZICO (Important Area for Bird Conservation) which spans 6,485 hectares and is the habitat of two species of parrots: the imperial amazon (Amazona imperialis), a threatened species; and the red-necked amazon (Amazona arausiaca), a vulnerable species. This ZICO supports the smaller of the two known populations of these parrots, with less than 50 imperial amazons and 200-500 red-necked amazons. Furthermore, it is important to consider that 19 birds whose area of distribution is restricted to the area of the Lesser Antilles are present in this ZICO. 

The Park is also the habitat of the endangered Gounouj frog (Eleutherodactylus amplinympha); as well as the Dominican anole (Anolis oculatus); the endemic subspecies of red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina); the common opossum (Didelphys marsupialis insularis) and also the endemic subspecies of boa constrictor or Dominican boa constrictor (Boa constrictor nebulosa). 

Ecotourism potential

The Three Pitons Park, with its diversity of landscapes, is an exceptional place for hiking. Many hikes are available for visitors to discover the lakes, the peaks of the different “Mornes” or the surrounding thermal baths, rivers and waterfalls. 

Very popular, attracting several thousand visitors a year, its trails satisfy both families and experienced hikers. 

Among the volcanoes located within the park boundaries, Morne Trois Pitons dominates with its three peaks (1,342 m). From the top there are spectacular views of the lush tropical jungle. 

In the park there are at least three waterfalls that are worth visiting. The highest is that of Middleham, located to the west of Morne Micotrin. 

Boeri Lake (2 hectares), is the highest mountain lake on the island, at an altitude of 853 m. The 1.5 km walk takes 1h30 and can be slippery at times. The calm and silence of this lake make it a privileged place to meditate. 

Finally, Dominica is also known for lovers of fantasy movies, the bone cage drop scene in Pirate of the Caribbean was filmed in Titou Gorge.