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| Morne Dubuc | |
|---|---|
| Name | Morne Dubuc |
| Elevation m | 693 |
| Location | Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles |
| Coordinates | 16°15′N 61°40′W |
| Range | Basse-Terre volcanic chain |
| Type | Stratovolcanic dome |
| Age | Holocene |
Morne Dubuc is a volcanic hill on the island of Basse-Terre in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe. Situated within the Lesser Antilles arc, Morne Dubuc occupies a landscape shared with prominent features such as La Soufrière, Mount Pelée, and the Massif de la Grande-Terre. The feature has influenced local hydrology, settlement patterns, and conservation planning in adjacent communes including Basse-Terre, Pointe-à-Pitre, and Capesterre-Belle-Eau.
Morne Dubuc rises in western Basse-Terre near the municipalities of Basse-Terre, Bouillante, and Vieux-Habitants. The ridge forms part of the drainage basin feeding tributaries that join the Rivière Salée (Guadeloupe), Rivière des Pères, and coastal estuaries by Grande-Terre. Its position within the Lesser Antilles situates it relative to regional landmarks such as La Désirade, Marie-Galante, and Les Saintes, while maritime approaches from the Caribbean Sea link it to navigation routes past Fort-de-France and Castries. The summit provides vistas toward the volcanic silhouette of La Soufrière (Guadeloupe), the caldera rim of Soufrière Hills, and the coral flats off Pointe-à-Pitre.
Morne Dubuc is part of the Basse-Terre volcanic complex derived from subduction of the North American Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate. Its lithology includes andesitic to basaltic-andesitic flows, pyroclastic deposits, and later dome extrusions comparable to those documented at La Soufrière (Guadeloupe), Mount Pelée, and Kick 'em Jenny. Stratigraphic relations link Morne Dubuc deposits to Holocene eruptive phases recognized across the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc, with tephra layers correlating to ash beds studied at Piton de la Fournaise and Soufrière Hills Volcano. Structural features include radial fissures, jointed lava domes, and erosional gullies incised by tributaries feeding the Rivière Salée (Guadeloupe), demonstrating similar processes to those mapped by teams from Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris and Observatoire Volcanologique et Sismologique de Guadeloupe. Geochemical analyses show phenocryst assemblages reminiscent of samples reported from La Soufrière (Guadeloupe) and Soufrière Saint Vincent, indicating magma differentiation under island arc conditions.
The slopes of Morne Dubuc host montane rainforest communities akin to those recorded in the Parc National de la Guadeloupe and the Guadeloupe National Park. Floristic assemblages include canopy species documented in regional inventories such as representatives of the families Fabaceae, Moraceae, and Melastomataceae, paralleling species lists from Basse-Terre National Park surveys. Faunal records align with observations at Réserve biologique intégrale de la Guadeloupe and include amphibians and reptiles surveyed alongside Anolis lizards, endemic passerines similar to the Guadeloupe woodpecker, and bat species monitored by teams associated with Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Epiphytic orchids and bromeliads on ridgeline trunks resemble occurrences mapped near Saut d'Acomat and Cascade aux Écrevisses, while bird migration studies referencing Lesser Antilles flyways note intermittent stopovers by species also tracked at Les Saintes and Marie-Galante.
Indigenous Arawak and Carib presence across the Lesser Antilles included occupation and travel routes proximate to Morne Dubuc, as inferred from regional analogues in archaeological studies at Basse-Terre (commune), Saint-Claude, Guadeloupe, and Petit-Bourg. European colonial settlement by the French in the 17th century altered land use through plantation agriculture tied to sugarcane and coffee estates near Pointe-à-Pitre and Sainte-Rose, with estate records comparable to those archived at Archives départementales de la Guadeloupe. During the 18th and 19th centuries, cartographers from Département des Cartes et Plans and surveyors linked to the Société d'Histoire de la Guadeloupe mapped tracks and haciendas on Basse-Terre slopes. Twentieth-century developments saw forestry management and infrastructure projects coordinated with authorities in Basse-Terre (commune) and scientific missions from Université des Antilles.
Trails ascending Morne Dubuc connect to regional networks used by hikers, birdwatchers, and naturalists, similar to routes in Parc National de la Guadeloupe and approach paths to La Soufrière (Guadeloupe)]. Local guides affiliated with associations like those based in Bouillante and Vieux-Habitants offer interpretive walks emphasizing connections to landmarks such as Saut d'Acomat and coastal viewpoints toward Pointe-à-Pitre. Recreational activities include day hikes, botanical excursions paralleling programs at Jardin Botanique de Deshaies, and photography opportunities comparable to lookout points at Chute du Carbet. Access logistics involve municipal roads maintained by Conseil Départemental de la Guadeloupe and visitor information coordinated with offices in Basse-Terre (commune).
Conservation measures for Morne Dubuc intersect with policies and protected-area frameworks administered by Parc National de la Guadeloupe, Office National des Forêts, and regional environmental bodies such as Agence régionale de l'environnement Guadeloupe. Management priorities reflect concerns addressed in plans for Réserve Naturelle Nationale de Saint-Martin and invasive-species control programs modeled after initiatives at Marie-Galante. Scientific monitoring has been conducted in collaboration with institutions including Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université des Antilles, and Observatoire Volcanologique et Sismologique de Guadeloupe to integrate biodiversity inventories, erosion control, and sustainable tourism. Stakeholder engagement involves municipal councils of Basse-Terre (commune), Bouillante, and Vieux-Habitants alongside NGOs and community groups analogous to conservation partnerships seen across the Lesser Antilles.
Category:Mountains of Guadeloupe