Watt, Morne

About Watt, Morne

Morne Watt (Watt Mountain) volcano lies SE of the Trois Piton/Micotrin lava-dome complex in SE Dominica, E of the capital city of Roseau. The two best-known volcanic features on Dominica, the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake thermal areas, lie on the flank; both are major tourist attractions within the national park. Morne Anglais stratovolcano lies 4 km SW of Morne Watt. Soufrière Hills volcano, with dated pyroclastic-flow producing eruptions ~10,000 years ago, lies 3 km E. A major eruption from Morne Watt producing pyroclastic flows occurred ~1300 years ago. A moderately large phreatic explosion took place at the Valley of Desolation thermal area NE of Morne Watt in 1880, when ash fell over a 4-km-wide sector at the coast, 10 km from the vent. A smaller phreatic explosion occurred in July 1997, when ashfall was confined to the Valley of Desolation area. These mark the only known historical eruptions on the island.