Geologic and Tectonic Background of the Lesser Antilles

Abstract

The Lesser Antilles, which include the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands, and the Leeward Antilles of the eastern Caribbean, were once described as “Edens of Delight,” and they certainly comprise some of the most striking and intriguing landscapes on Earth. Used in 1925 as a model by William Morris Davis for his cycle of island development, they have never, until now, been the subject of a comprehensive geomorphological appreciation. They extend from the Virgin Islands in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south, and 1140 km from Aruba in the west to Barbados in the east. Consisting of some six hundred tropical islands, in total they only cover a relatively modest land area (less than half the size of Albania), but they exemplify major, horseshoe-shaped island arcs, with numerous volcanic features, including stratovolcanoes, granitic plutons, and also carbonate formations (including reefs) on which numerous karst features have developed. This well-structured volume pro- vides an analysis of the tectonic history of the area, a discussion of its climatic conditions, and a survey of the human influence and transformation of its diverse landscapes. Above all, it discusses the main island clusters, drawing attention to their spectacular landforms, their land use histories, their heritage concerns, and the geomorphological hazards (including tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides, and hurricanes) with which their inhabitants have to contend. As befits an area of such splendid geomorphological phenomena, it is also beautifully illustrated with plates and maps and will become the first port of call for all those interested in how the landscapes of the islands have evolved. Moreover, it will stimulate further research. It is also a very worthy new volume in a series of books—The World Geomorphological Landscapes— that are doing much to draw attention to the magnificence and significance of our planet’s major geomorphological regions.