From north to south...
Martinique is traditionally divided into two very different regions, shaped by volcanic activity:
The north, which is geologically more recent, is dominated by high massifs, the Pitons du Carbet and Montagne Pelée, lush tropical vegetation, spectacular scenery (gorges, ravines, waterfalls) and water-demanding crops (such as bananas). The mountain group formed by the Pitons du Carbet and Montagne Pelée offers superb walks for hikers, between lush forests and babbling rivers sheltered by the Parc Naturel Régional de Martinique.
The south, on the other hand, is the product of more ancient volcanic phenomena. It is characterized by more modest mornes (small hills), including the Montagne du Vauclin, an ancient volcano that modestly reaches 500 meters in altitude, and arid expanses punctuated by sumptuous bays and coves where the famous white sand beaches curl up. It is here that mangroves flourish, precious ecosystems that play an essential role in the conservation of tropical coastlines. The south is home to the island's most popular coastal communities: les Trois-Ilets, les Anses-d'Arlet and le Diamant to the west, Sainte-Anne, Sainte-Luce and le Marin to the east, not forgetting the forty-eight small islets that are veritable natural observatories for Martinique's flora and fauna.
These two regions, north and south, are separated by the Lamentin plain, which is home to over a third of Martinique's population and extends around the capital, Fort-de-France. The topography is also very rugged (more than half the island has slopes in excess of 20%), with a strong influence on wind regulation, water flow, soil erosion and, of course, the location of vegetation.
In reality, Martinique's landscape is made up of six major groups, with, from north to south : mount Pelée, the "Grande Dame of the North", which rises to 1,397 metres and forms a steep cone that plunges straight into the sea; the Pitons du Carbet, extended by Morne Jacob, the result of ancient volcanoes; the highly urbanized bay of Fort-de-France in the center, which links the slopes of the Pitons du Carbet and those of the south-western peninsula; the Diamant peninsula in the south-west, dominated by Morne Larchet and its windless coves (Anses-d'Arlet, Petite Anse and Grande Anse); the hilly landscapes of Le Marin and Sainte-Luce, overlooked by Montagne du Vauclin and extended out to sea by small islets; the Sainte-Anne peninsula in the far south, more arid and wild, with its beaches and popular natural sites.
A face shaped by volcanic activity
In Martinique, volcanoes are responsible, in large part, for the rich biodiversity of the island. The island is located in the center of the Lesser Antilles, which are situated at the limit between the sliding movements of the Caribbean and Atlantic plates. The latter is called subduction under the former, which is the process by which an oceanic tectonic plate curves and dives under another plate before sinking into the earth's mantle.
Seismic activity is linked to continental drift, a play of tectonic plates that, by moving one in relation to the other, store tensions in the rocks that, sooner or later, end up releasing and causing earthquakes. In the Lesser Antilles region, the convergence movement of the Atlantic plate with the Caribbean plate is progressing at a rate of 2 cm per year: this boundary, called the subduction zone, is the site of earthquakes that can be significant.
The volcanic activity of Martinique began 50 million years ago by a submarine volcanism, making emerge the first formations: the peninsulas of Caravelle and Sainte-Anne, east and south of the island. This period is called the ancient arc or external arc: it refers to a period during which volcanism was entirely submarine. Volcanic activity then continued with the construction of “shield” volcanoes, as can be seen in the region of Le François, which is made up of a multitude of mornes, vestiges of this period.
Between 6 and 1 million years ago arose the Morne Jacob, the Pitons du Carbet, then Mount Conil (between 1 and 0.5 million years ago) and finally Mount Pelee (around 0.5 million years ago).
The history of Madinina has thus been marked by these numerous episodes of volcanic activity, which have often had a destructive effect on the fauna and flora. Against all expectations, this alternation between phases of volcanic activity and dormant phases has been conducive to the appearance of new ecosystems. A specific vegetation has settled on the volcanic slopes of Mount Pelée and the Pitons du Carbet. The effects of volcanism (gas, heat) combined with those of altitude (wind, meteorological variations) thus contribute to biological diversity and the selection of adapted species.
