Mount Pelée
Active volcano on the Caribbean island of Martinique / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Montagne Pelée?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Mount Pelée or Mont Pelée (/pəˈleɪ/ pə-LAY; French: Montagne Pelée, [mɔ̃taɲ pəle]; Antillean Creole: Montann Pèlé, meaning "bald mountain" or "peeled mountain")[3] in French, is an active volcano at the northern end of Martinique, an island and French overseas department in the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc of the Caribbean. Its volcanic cone is composed of stratified layers of hardened ash and solidified lava.[4] Its most recent eruption was in 1932.[2][5]
Mount Pelée | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 1,397 m (4,583 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 1,381 m (4,531 ft) |
Coordinates | 14°49′N 61°10′W |
Naming | |
Pronunciation | /pəˈleɪ/ pə-LAY French: [pəle] |
Geography | |
Location in Martinique | |
Location | Martinique |
Geology | |
Age of rock | 89+ |
Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
Volcanic arc/belt | Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc |
Last eruption | 1929–1932[2] |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | walk |
The stratovolcano's 1902 eruption destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre, killing 29,000 to 30,000 people in the space of a few minutes, in the worst volcanic disaster of the 20th century.[6] The main eruption, on 8 May 1902, left only three known survivors. Ludger Sylbaris survived because he was in a poorly ventilated, dungeon-like jail cell. Léon Compère-Léandre, living on the edge of the city, escaped with severe burns.[7] The third was a young girl named Havivra Da Ifrile, who fled to a nearby sea cave in a boat, enduring burns from falling ash.[8]
In 2023, it was listed as UNESCO World heritage site.[9]