Trinidad Volcanoes

Of the twin islands Trinidad has a number of mud volcanoes which are sometimes called ‘bouffe’, ‘morne’, ‘yard’ or ‘guaico’. The names come from the multi-cultural influences of islands history, ‘bouffe’ is French meaning ‘swelling’ and the language of the indigenous peoples, ‘guaico’ means ‘mud stream’.

The volcanoes are situated mainly in the central and southern areas and attract many visitors both local and foreign. Although there is activity in some of the volcanoes, it is very minimal and there are populated areas in close proximity to it. The most activity that has been recorded was in 1997 at the Piparo site which resulted in a part of the village being covered in mud. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-GClQNryHY) The occurrence could be classified as a disaster but the reaction by the people treated the event with the enthusiasm of a novelty concert or a mini carnival. The site is still visited but is now, for the most part, overgrown with vegetation. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCQ6zbgW6d4)

The manner in which ‘Trinis’ deal with potential natural disasters are legendary. It is not unusual for impending catastrophe to be

greeted and marked by fetes and parties. Piparo eruption was no different and was greeted with people flocking to the still active mud-flow to take photographs and to bathe in the mud or to take some away as souvenirs.  What prompts this behaviour one may ask? If you ask any ‘Trini’ the answer might be the same ‘because God is ah Trini’. What creates this belief? Our unique location!

Trinidad and Tobago is located on the edge of the North American Plate that is sliding over the African Plate so we are out of the Zone of Subduction. We are located just out of the Volcanic Zone so we have no significant volcanoes and we are just out of the Hurricane Zone so it is not often that a hurricane reaches our shores. And if there is a violent eruption of Kick-em-Jenny, the underwater volcano just off Grenada, our Northern Range will block most of the possible tidal action.

Trinbago is indeed blessed.