🌋VolcanoAtlas

Soufrière Guadeloupe

The Caribbean's Most Controversial Volcanic Crisis

Elevation

1,467 m

Last Eruption

1977

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

France (Guadeloupe)

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity49 years agoRecentRecently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Watch
Dormant but monitored. Capable of renewed activity.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All France (Guadeloupe) Volcanoes
Explore by country
Stratovolcano Volcanoes
By volcano type
Basse-Terre, Lesser Antilles
Regional volcanoes

Interesting Facts

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The 1976 evacuation displaced 73,600 people — approximately one-fifth of Guadeloupe's population — for up to several months, making it one of the largest volcanic evacuations in Caribbean history.

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At 1,467 m (4,813 ft), Soufrière Guadeloupe is the highest point in the Lesser Antilles island chain.

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All six historically observed eruptions (since 1690) have been phreatic — steam explosions without fresh magma reaching the surface — but the geological record proves the system is capable of VEI 4 magmatic eruptions.

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The city of Basse-Terre, the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, sits just 3.5 km from the summit, making it one of the most volcanically exposed capital cities in the world.

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The 1976 crisis divided the French scientific community so bitterly that the debate between volcanologists Claude Allègre and Haroun Tazieff became a public scandal covered in the national press.

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Since 2018, monitoring stations have recorded increasing fumarolic temperatures, gas flux, and the emergence of new vents near the summit — trends being closely watched by the OVSG.

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The word 'soufrière' (from French soufre, 'sulfur') is used to name at least four different Caribbean volcanoes, reflecting the ubiquity of sulfurous fumaroles across the Lesser Antilles arc.

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Two catastrophic flank collapses in the past 12,000 years generated debris avalanches that swept down to the coast, fundamentally reshaping the volcano's structure.

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The geological record reveals that the most recent VEI 4 magmatic eruption (~1530 CE) occurred just 160 years before the first European observation of the volcano in 1690.

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Guadeloupe National Park, which protects the volcano and its surrounding tropical montane forest, is one of the most visited national parks in France's overseas territories.

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Soufrière Guadeloupe sits 170 km north of Mount Pelée on Martinique, whose 1902 eruption killed approximately 29,000 people — a catastrophe that weighs heavily on Caribbean volcanic risk planning.

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The natural hot springs at Bains Jaunes ('Yellow Baths'), on the hiking trail to the summit, have been used for bathing since the colonial era and remain a popular stop for visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Soufrière Guadeloupe still active?
Yes, La Soufrière de la Guadeloupe is classified as an active volcano. Although the most recent eruption (phreatic) occurred in 1976–1977, the volcano exhibits persistent fumarolic activity, periodic seismic swarms, and — since 2018 — increasing gas temperatures and flux from summit vents. These signs confirm the underlying hydrothermal and magmatic system remains active. The volcano is continuously monitored by the Observatoire Volcanologique et Sismologique de Guadeloupe (OVSG), and the volcanic alert level is at Green (Vigilance). Scientists consider future eruptions possible and maintain updated hazard assessments.
What happened in 1976 at Soufrière Guadeloupe?
On July 8, 1976, Soufrière Guadeloupe began a phreatic eruption — steam-driven explosions that ejected ash and old rock fragments but no fresh magma. Accompanied by strong earthquakes and increased gas emissions, the eruption triggered a heated scientific debate: some volcanologists warned of an imminent catastrophic magmatic eruption (like Mount Pelée in 1902), while others argued the activity was purely phreatic and manageable. On August 15, 1976, authorities ordered the evacuation of 73,600 people from Basse-Terre and surrounding areas. The feared magmatic eruption never occurred, and activity ceased by March 1977. The event remains a landmark case study in volcanic crisis management.
Could Soufrière Guadeloupe produce a dangerous eruption?
Yes. While all historically observed eruptions have been phreatic (steam-driven), the geological record demonstrates the volcano is capable of VEI 4 magmatic eruptions producing pyroclastic flows — the last such event occurred around 1530 CE. Additionally, the volcano has experienced two catastrophic flank collapses in the past 12,000 years. A magmatic eruption would pose extreme danger to Basse-Terre (population ~15,000), located just 3.5 km from the summit. Current increases in fumarolic activity are being monitored for signs of fresh magmatic input.
How tall is Soufrière Guadeloupe?
La Soufrière de la Guadeloupe stands 1,467 m (4,813 ft) above sea level, making it the highest point in the Lesser Antilles island chain and the highest peak in Guadeloupe. The summit is a flat-topped andesitic lava dome, cross-cut by fractures from repeated phreatic explosions. The volcano rises steeply from near sea level on the western coast of Basse-Terre, providing dramatic visual prominence relative to its moderate absolute elevation.
Can you hike Soufrière Guadeloupe?
Yes, the summit hike is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Guadeloupe. The trail begins at the Bains Jaunes parking area (approximately 1,100 m elevation) and ascends through tropical montane rainforest before reaching the barren summit dome in roughly 2–3 hours. At the summit, hikers encounter active fumarolic vents, sulfur deposits, and panoramic Caribbean views. The Bains Jaunes hot springs are a popular stop on the trail. Conditions can change rapidly due to weather and volcanic gas; visitors should check current conditions with the national park and OVSG before hiking.
What is the difference between Soufrière Guadeloupe and other Soufrière volcanoes?
The name 'Soufrière' (from French soufre, 'sulfur') is shared by multiple Caribbean volcanoes, which can cause confusion. Soufrière Guadeloupe (1,467 m) is on Basse-Terre in Guadeloupe and last erupted in 1977. Soufrière Hills (915 m) is on Montserrat and has been intermittently erupting since 1995, destroying the capital Plymouth. La Soufrière of St. Vincent (1,220 m) erupted explosively in 2021. All three are stratovolcanoes in the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc, and all share the common feature of sulfurous fumarolic activity that inspired their shared name.
Why was the 1976 evacuation controversial?
The evacuation of 73,600 people from Basse-Terre in August 1976 became controversial because the feared catastrophic magmatic eruption never materialized. The phreatic activity that triggered the evacuation waned and ceased by 1977 without fresh magma reaching the surface. Critics, including volcanologist Claude Allègre, argued the evacuation was unnecessary and economically devastating. Defenders, led by Haroun Tazieff, countered that the precautionary principle justified action given the potential for a Mount Pelée-type catastrophe (29,000 dead in 1902). The debate shaped how volcanic crises are managed worldwide and highlighted the challenge of communicating scientific uncertainty to the public.
Is Basse-Terre safe from volcanic eruption?
Basse-Terre, the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, is situated approximately 3.5 km from the summit of La Soufrière and lies within the volcano's high-risk hazard zone. In the event of a magmatic eruption producing pyroclastic flows — as occurred around 1530 CE — the city could be directly threatened. French civil protection authorities maintain evacuation plans for this scenario, and the OVSG provides continuous monitoring. While the current alert level is Green (Vigilance), the proximity of 15,000 residents to an active volcano represents one of the highest volcanic exposure levels of any capital city in the Caribbean.