St. Vincent is an island near the southern end of the Lesser Antilles, a tropical archipelago that lies along the eastern edge of the Caribbean Plate. These islands are volcanic in origin, produced by the subduction of the American Plates beneath the Caribbean Plate as the Atlantic Ocean continues to open.
La Soufriere is a volcano that forms the northern half of St. Vincent Island. Geologic studies indicate that the volcano has developed over the past 600,000 years, including six major eruptions since 1718; the last of these began on April 9 and may continue for weeks (if not longer). Toxic, volcanic ash is currently falling across the island.
Most of the beautiful, tropical islands on our planet are volcanic in origin and many remain active or, at best, dormant. Those who live on or visit these parcels of paradise must accept the risk of eruptions, however infrequent they may occur.
