The History of Morne Trois Pitons National Park

## From Hunting Ground to World Heritage Site Morne Trois Pitons National Park covers 6,857 hectares of the most spectacular volcanic landscape in the Caribbean. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the crown jewel of Dominica's natural heritage. But its story begins long before the first tourist ever set foot on the Boiling Lake trail. ## The Indigenous Kalinago People Long before European colonisation, the Kalinago people (also known as Caribs) inhabited Dominica and knew the volcanic interior intimately. The steaming valleys and boiling lakes were part of their spiritual landscape — places of power and mystery. The Kalinago used the medicinal plants of the rainforest for healing, and their knowledge of the land was extraordinary. Some of that knowledge has been passed down to local guides like myself. ## European Discovery Christopher Columbus sighted Dominica on November 3, 1493 — a Sunday, which is why he named it after the Latin word for Sunday (Dominica). The island's rugged volcanic interior made it difficult to colonise, and the Kalinago successfully resisted European settlement for longer than almost any other Caribbean island. ## The Colonial Period France and Britain fought over Dominica for much of the 17th and 18th centuries. The island's volcanic interior remained largely unexplored by Europeans during this period. The first recorded European visit to Boiling Lake was in 1875, by two British government officials. ## Establishment of the National Park Morne Trois Pitons National Park was established in 1975, making it one of the first national parks in the Eastern Caribbean. The park was created to protect the extraordinary volcanic landscape, the endemic species, and the watershed that provides fresh water to much of the island. ## UNESCO World Heritage Status In 1997, Morne Trois Pitons National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the first in the Eastern Caribbean. The inscription recognised the park's outstanding universal value as a volcanic landscape with exceptional biodiversity. ## Hurricane Maria (2017) Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica in September 2017, destroying 90% of the island's buildings and causing catastrophic damage to the national park. The Boiling Lake trail was severely damaged and closed for several months. I was part of the team that helped rebuild the trail. Seeing the landscape recover has been one of the most remarkable experiences of my guiding career. ## FAQs **When was Boiling Lake first discovered by Europeans?** The first recorded European visit was in 1875 by British officials Edmund Watt and Henry Nicholls. **How large is Morne Trois Pitons National Park?** The park covers 6,857 hectares (approximately 17,000 acres). ## Experience the History [Book your guided hike](/tour-booking-checkout?tourType=boiling-lake&transport=with) — I will share the full history of the park as we walk through it.