How tall is the summit of Mount Pelee?
One of these volcanoes, Mount Pelée, sat just 7 kilometers from St. Pierre and soared almost 1,400 meters above the city. Its smooth, verdant slopes lumbered down to the sea, cut in places by deep, raw gashes. Its summit crater drew adventurous hikers who occasionally caught whiffs of putrid gases.
Where is Mount Pelee in the Lesser Antilles?
Mount Pelée ( /pəˈleɪ/ pə-LAY; French: Montagne Pelée [mɔ̃taɲ pəle], meaning „bald mountain“ or „peeled mountain“) is a volcano at the northern end of Martinique, an island and French overseas department in the Lesser Antilles island arc of the Caribbean. Its volcanic cone is composed of stratified layers…
Where did the eruption of Mount Pelee take place?
The 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée was a volcanic eruption on the island of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc of the eastern Caribbean, which was one of the deadliest eruptions in recorded history. Eruptive activity began on 23 April as a series of phreatic explosions from the summit of Mount Pelée.
What kind of subduction zone is Mount Pelee?
Mount Pelée is the result of a typical subduction zone. The subduction formed the Lesser Antilles island arc, a curved chain of volcanoes approximately 850 kilometres (530 mi) in length, between Puerto Rico and Venezuela, where the Caribbean Plate meets Atlantic oceanic crust belonging to the South American Plate.
How tall is Mount Pelee on the island of Martinique?
See Article History. Alternative Title: Montagne Pelée. Mount Pelée, French Montagne Pelée, active volcanic mountain on the Caribbean island of Martinique. Situated 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Fort-de-France, it reaches an elevation of 4,583 feet (1,397 metres).
Where was the eruption of Mount Pelee in 1902?
Benchmarks: May 8, 1902: The deadly eruption of Mount Pelée. At the turn of the 20th century, the town of St. Pierre was known as the “Paris of the Caribbean.” Nestled into the northwest coast of the French island of Martinique, it boasted a bustling harbor where ships hauled away precious loads of sugar and rum,…
Where is Mount Pelee in the West Indies?
Mount Pelee is situated in Martinique in the Caribbean. Taking a look at the West Indies, Mount Pelee is among the most active. Martinique at a glance The French island of Martinique lies in the center of the Caribbean Archipelago and is one of the numerous islands in the vast ocean which make up the group called The Breezy Islands.
…occurred a violent eruption of Mount Pelée, a stratovolcano on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean Sea. Although less than 1 cubic km (0.24 cubic mile) of magma was erupted, much of it formed a high-velocity pyroclastic flow that swept down a steep valley to the port of Saint-Pierre.….
How did Mount Pelee in Martinique get its name?
Mount Pelée. Pelée, whose name is a French term meaning “Bald,” consists of layers of volcanic ash and lavas. Its gently sloping cone is scored with ravines and supports luxuriant forests. Minor eruptions occurred in 1792 and 1851, but on May 8, 1902, it violently destroyed the port of Saint-Pierre, killing approximately 30,000 people,…
Who was the most famous survivor of Mount Pelee?
When rescuers eventually did enter the ruins, they pulled from a jail cell the most famous survivor of the disaster, Louis-Auguste Cyparis, who later toured with the Barnum and Bailey Circus. But as the smoke cleared, scientists began to wonder what exactly happened on Mount Pelée.
Why was there so much panic at Mount Pelee?
Most thought there was no reason to worry — until a cloud of ash descended onto the city. As it then became likely that Mount Pelee would soon erupt, panic quickly grew in the city below. Some fled, running as far out of the city as they could before the volcano could erupt.
What did the Governor do during the Montagne Pelee eruption?
Mitigation Efforts – pre-event May 3: governor provided refuge, transportation from St. Pierre following initial eruptions May 5: governor promises rapid evacuation to Le Prêcheur if needed. Mayor and town priest maintain calm. May 6: governor visits and provides food to Le Prêcheur, transportation for limited evacuation (to St. Pierre).