TORTOLA, BVI – (press release) Geography students from the St. Georges Secondary School were in Dominica on a five-day expedition, researching the difference in the environment around dormant, extinct and active volcanoes.
Dominica, “the nature island of the Caribbean”, was chosen because the island has the highest concentrations of potentially active volcanoes in the world.
“We had a choice between Dominica and Montserrat, but we quickly settled for Dominica, mainly because it has the most active volcanoes in the Caribbean,” explained Geography teacher Mrs. Rhonda Adams.
Of the 16 active volcanoes in the Caribbean, Dominica is home to nine, one of which last erupted in 1997. The area is also regularly exposed to hurricanes and occasional severe seismic activity.
Since volcanoes and earthquakes are major themes of the syllabus, Mrs. Adams felt that conducting a field study would aid in a better understanding of volcanoes and volcanic features and achieving the geography curriculum.
“This field trip was aimed at giving the students a first-hand experience of volcanoes and an understanding of the processes that work together to create such a natural phenomenon.”
Mrs. Adams noted that although field trips to volcanoes can be quite exciting, the dangers associated with visiting such sites were pre-empted.
“Throughout the planning stages, I made sure that their safety was always first and foremost on the agenda. I must admit that the Icelandic eruption in April 2010, when 40 school pupils were there studying the geothermal activity at the time of the eruption, did play a big part in me being extremely thorough.”
The students visited the Cold Soufrière, an old volcanic crater, the Wotten Waven, a dormant volcano and an extinct fresh water lake (in a crater ).
They were able to obtain information on temperature differences, colour variation and soil texture.
The fourth formers also got a first-hand glimpse at the pattern distribution of vegetation surrounding the different types of volcanoes and the general ecology of a dormant and extinct volcano.
Identification of some of the extrusive volcanic features, such as the crater that was filled with water at the Freshwater Lake, hot springs and fumaroles was also done by the students.
Upon their May 25, 2010 return, the students confessed that this field study will be a lasting experience for them.
Ms Adams added: “It was a great adventure. The students were brilliant and they absolutely loved it.”
The Geography students included Currissa Ferreira, Nathaniel Gumbs, Arthur Corion Jahlil Mendes, Yanira Hodge, Ronica Wheatley, and Dekoi Erickson.
im doing a project for this volcano hope i get an A on it but ill be fine with a b+
i love this volcano it is located in the caribbean
Monserrat shows more volcanic activity. Thankfully DA’s volcanos are keeping their cool.
i’m sure it must have been a good adventure cause this is one thing that they don’t see up in tola. hope they enjoyed the rivers too…and prepare for the quiz that will follow this trip.
Imagine if they had visited the Boiling Lake, a wonderful testimony of volanic activity on the island