Morne Trois Pitons National Park

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Morne Trois Pitons National Park: A Volcanic Jewel in the Heart of Dominica

The Morne Trois Pitons National Park, nestled in the heart of Dominica, is a testament to the island nation's rich volcanic heritage and vibrant tropical ecosystems. Established in 1975, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, recognizing its exceptional natural beauty and scientific importance.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Luxuriant natural tropical forest blends with scenic volcanic features of great scientific interest in this national park centred on the 1,342-m-high volcano known as Morne Trois Pitons. With its precipitous slopes and deeply incised valleys, 50 fumaroles, hot springs, three freshwater lakes, a 'boiling lake' and five volcanoes, located on the park's nearly 7,000 ha, together with the richest biodiversity in the Lesser Antilles, Morne Trois Pitons National Park presents a rare combination of natural features of World Heritage value.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (viii): The property encompasses extraordinary and intact examples and arrays of geomorphologic features as a result of a series of volcanic eruptions. The distinctive geology and landforms of Morne Trois Pitons National Park are comprised of three major types of geological formations: volcanic piles, glacis slopes and soufrieres. The property displays a magnificent spectrum of volcanic activity in the form of streams of various colors interspersed with fumaroles, mud ponds and hot springs, including the massive Boiling Lake. Ongoing geo-morphological processes of reduction are taking place in a largely undisturbed setting of stunning scenic value and major scientific interest.

Criterion (x): Morne Trois Pitons National Park is home to one of the very rare largely intact forest areas remaining in the Insular Caribbean, a region recognized through various priority-setting exercises as a highly threatened biodiversity region and center of endemism of global importance. Along extreme altitudinal and micro-climatic gradients an impressive variety of forest types has evolved featuring a highly diverse flora with many endemic vascular plant species. There are also endemic reptiles and amphibians and a noteworthy number of bird species, including the Imperial Parrot and the vulnerable Red-Necked Parrot, which are endemic to Dominica. Much of the biological wealth remains to be documented and research is likely to reveal further biodiversity secrets.

Encyclopedia Record: Morne Trois Pitons National Park

Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a national park in Dominica established in July 1975, the first to be legally established in the country. It became a World Heritage Site in 1997. The park is named after its highest mountain, Morne Trois Pitons, meaning mountain of three peaks. The park is an area of significant volcanic activity. Features within the park include the Valley of Desolation, a region of boiling mud ponds and small geysers; the Boiling Lake; Titou Gorge; and Emerald Pool. The mountain is the second-highest peak in Dominica, being exceeded only by Morne Diablotins.

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IUCN World Heritage Outlook

The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Morne Trois Pitons National Park reports the following assessment:

Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment