La Grande Soufrière, or simply La Soufrière (French: "sulphur outlet"), is an active stratovolcano located on the French island of Basse-Terre, in Guadeloupe. It is the tallest mountain in the Lesser Antilles, and rises 4,813 ft (1,467 m) high.

The volcano's 1976 eruption lead to an evacuation but no loss of life. There was a well-publicized bitter controversy between scientists Claude Allègre and Haroun Tazieff on whether evacuation should be decided: Allègre held that inhabitants should be evacuated, just in case, while Tazieff held that the Soufrière was harmless. The prefect decided to evacuate, erring on the side of prudence; the eruption did not result in any damage.

Whilst the island was deserted, the German filmmaker Werner Herzog travelled to the abandoned town of Basse-Terre to find a peasant who had refused to leave his home on the slopes of the volcano. His journey is recorded in the film La Soufriere.

Image:Guadeloupe 116 - Sommet de la Soufrière 1467m - Guadeloupe.jpg Image:Guadeloupe 123 - Massif de la Soufrière 1467m - Chemin des bains jaunes.jpg

Image:Guadeloupe 108 - lac Flamarion - sommet de la citerne 1155m - massif de la Soufrière.jpg Image:Guadeloupe 114 - Sommet de la Soufrière 1467m - Guadeloupe.jpg

References

• Global Volcanism Program

Volcanoes of France | Stratovolcanoes | Active volcanoes

Soufrière (Guadeloupe) | Soufrière (Guadeloupe)