Hurricanes and a Volcano
Has anyone out there been to Martinique? I just read some online information about the eruption of Mt. Pelee there on May 8, 1902. It was the deadliest volcanic eruption in the 20th century, killing all but two people of nearly 30,000 in the town of St. Pierre, a harbor town at the base of the volcano. This single volcano killed twice as many people in just a few minutes as have all the hurricanes that have blown through the Caribbean in the last 500 years-an estimated 15,000. Amazing.
A good story about it can be found at the San Diego State University Department of Geological Sciences: www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Pelee.html
FOG: St Pierre is a fascinating town. They have rebuilt on the ruins, so buildings may have two old walls and two new, etc. Several areas have been left "as is." The museum was interesting also, although all the explanations were in French only. The French don't quite believe in multi-lingualism! 😉
Post Edited (09-12-04 19:22)
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