The steep-sided pyramid of the Petit Piton lava dome, the northernmost of St. Lucia's renowned Pitons, rises to the south above Soufriere Bay. The dramatic peak is the eroded plug of a dacitic dome that was emplaced about 250,000 years ago. The 743-m-high dome displays nearly vertical flow banding on all sides. Emplacement of the Pitons preceded formation of the Qualibou caldera about 32-39,000 years ago.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1991 (Smithsonian Institution).

This image is made available under the Public Domain Dedication CC0 license, but proper attribution is appreciated.

Qualibou