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Dominica – the green island |
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Written by jane69
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Sunday, 01 January 2006 |
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Page 2 of 2
 | | Morne Trois Pitons National Park |
We like a hiking and the Morne Trois Pitons National Park offers serious treks into the wilderness. Dominica’s best trek is the rugged daylong hike to Boiling Lake, the world’s second-largest actively boiling lake.  | | Boiling Lake |
The strenuous 6-mile hike (one-way) begins at Titou Gorge, near village Laudat. The trek passes through a rain forest and steaming volcanic valley, called Valley of Desolation, destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1880. Today it is an active fumarole’s area with a barren-looking landscape of crusted lava, steaming sulfur vents and scattered hot springs. Finally we stay (wet and muddy) on the bank of Boiling Lake. We are totally destroyed but satisfied. 207-foot-wide lake is a flooded fumarole, a crack in the earth that allows hot gases to vent from the molten lava below.
 The area in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park offers also other trails. The park covers an area of 17,000 acres of Dominica's mountainous volcanic interior. Here you can explore the natural rainforest where the thick clouds cover the green peaks and also Morne Trois Pitons,  Dominica's second highest mountain (4550ft). The walk to Freshwater Lake, Dominica’s largest lake, is a straightforward 2 ½ hike up. You can continue another 1 ¼ miles from Freshwater Lake to Boeri Lake. The 130-foot-deep Boeri Lake occupies a volcanic crater.
The east coast is largely open seas with high surf and turbulent water conditions. There is no possibility for swim. But the waterfalls here, Boli Falls or Sari-Sari Falls, are spectacular. Approximately in the south third of Dominica the main road crosses the island. We stop on our way across the island at  | | Idyllic Emerald Pool |
the Emerald Pool. It takes its name from its green setting at the base of a 40 foot waterfall. The pool we reached via a ten-minute walk through a lush green rainforest in the heavy tropical rain.
Afterward the road follows Dominica’s longest river Layou River.  | | The Morne Diablotin Peak from Portsmouth |
Around the river grow bamboo, banana and coconut trees. We travel up the west coast to Portsmouth, Dominica’s second-largest town. Portsmouth sits on the banks of Prince Rupert Bay. Columbus entered the bay during his fourth voyage to the New World in 1504. Here is a good snorkeling and diving area around a couple of shipwreck and coral reefs. We explore Cabrits National Park, on a scenic peninsula on the north side of town.  It is best known as the site of Fort Shirley. Some of the fort's stone ruins have been partially reconstructed and the fort is home to scores of hermit crabs, harmless snakes and ground lizards that scurry about the ruins and along the hiking trails that lead up to the two volcanic peaks, from where is a spectacular panoramic view. The ruins are very fun to explore.
 | | The beaches around Calibishie |
Noteworthy attraction in Portsmouth is a boat ride up the Indian River. The river runs from Portsmouth, in the West, deep into Northern Forest Reserve. Knowledgeable guide informs you about the incredible flora and fauna en route.
 Dominica has beaches, but they are not exceptional and they’re mostly of black sand. Around Calibishie on north coast are a few pockets of golden sands. Here are the beaches ideal for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. We relax here before leaving Dominica by the plane from Melville Hall Airport.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 02 January 2006 )
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The area in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park offers also other trails. The park covers an area of 17,000 acres of Dominica's mountainous volcanic interior. Here you can explore the natural rainforest where the thick clouds cover the green peaks and also Morne Trois Pitons, ;)
Dominica's second highest mountain (4550ft). The walk to Freshwater Lake, Dominica’s largest lake, is a straightforward 2 ½ hike up. You can continue another 1 ¼ miles from Freshwater Lake to Boeri Lake. The 130-foot-deep Boeri Lake occupies a volcanic crater.;)
It is best known as the site of Fort Shirley. Some of the fort's stone ruins have been partially reconstructed and the fort is home to scores of hermit crabs, harmless snakes and ground lizards that scurry about the ruins and along the hiking trails that lead up to the two volcanic peaks, from where is a spectacular panoramic view. The ruins are very fun to explore.;)
Dominica has beaches, but they are not exceptional and they’re mostly of black sand. Around Calibishie on north coast are a few pockets of golden sands. Here are the beaches ideal for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. We relax here before leaving Dominica by the plane from Melville Hall Airport.;)
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