Similar to Australia, whose highest peak is located in a remote part of the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and Antarctica, the highest point in the Netherlands is not found in Europe, but on a small Caribbean island. This peak is Mount Scenery, a volcano located on the island of Saba, which rises 887 meters above sea level.
Saba is a small island of just 13 square kilometers, part of the Lesser Antilles, and one of the special municipalities of the Netherlands since the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010.
Mount Scenery dominates the landscape of this small island as the northernmost active volcano in the Caribbean. Its last known eruption occurred around 1640, which included explosions and pyroclastic flows. However, the most significant eruption dates back at least 5,000 years.
Mount Scenery is notable not only for its height and volcanic history but also for the diversity of its ecosystems. As visitors ascend its slopes, they pass through different climatic zones, each with its own characteristic flora and fauna. At the summit, hikers encounter a spectacular cloud forest, a rare and fragile ecosystem that hosts a wide variety of unique species.
On September 2, 2019, the area surrounding Mount Scenery was elevated to national park status, recognizing its ecological and cultural importance. This step has been crucial for the protection and conservation of this unique environment.
The trail leading to the summit of Mount Scenery has become one of Saba’s main tourist attractions. With its 1,064 steps, hand-built by local residents in the 1960s, the path offers hikers a challenging but rewarding experience.
The ascent, which takes approximately 90 minutes each way, allows visitors to immerse themselves in the island’s rich biodiversity. From tree ferns and orchids in the lower zones to the peculiar Elfin Forest, a cloud forest home to unique species such as mountain mahogany and a variety of orchids, mosses, and ferns that thrive in the constant humidity.
Mount Scenery is not just a tourist destination, but also an important site for scientific research. Since the 1970s, various institutes and organizations have conducted studies and monitoring on the volcano. Currently, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) maintains four seismic monitoring stations on Saba, one of which is located at the summit of Mount Scenery.
In 2022, as part of a pilot study, low-cost GNSS units were installed to assess their suitability for monitoring volcanic activity. These scientific efforts not only help to better understand the volcano and its activity but also contribute to the safety of the island’s residents and visitors.
The history of Mount Scenery is closely linked to that of the inhabitants of Saba. For centuries, the slopes of the volcano were used for agriculture, providing sustenance for local families. Although most of the farmland has disappeared today, remnants of old farms are still visible on some of the island’s trails, offering a silent testimony to the relationship between the Saba people and their mountain.
The establishment of the Mount Scenery National Park in 2019 marks a new chapter in the history of this unique place. The park not only protects the biodiversity and ecosystems of the volcano but also preserves historical structures and supports ecotourism, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the island.
Mount Scenery is much more than just a geographical curiosity. It represents the diversity and complexity of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a state whose territory consist of four countries and extends beyond Europe to include tropical islands in the Caribbean.
This article was first published on our Spanish Edition on August 19, 2024: El pico más alto de los Países Bajos es un volcán del Caribe al que se sube por 1064 escalones
SOURCES
Global Volcanism Program, 1992. Report on Saba (Netherlands) (McClelland, L., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 17:5. Smithsonian Institution. doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN199205-360010
Saba Tourism, Hiking
Saba News, National park status for Mount Scenery Nature Park
Wikipedia, Monte Scenery
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