oradea pictures The Soufri re Marine Management Area (SMMA, 758-459-5500) encompasses much of the west coast from An

The Soufri re Marine Management Area (SMMA, 758-459-5500) encompasses oradea pictures much of the west coast from Anse Chastanet to south of the Pitons, so you must know the regulations or be with a guide who does. Boating, fishing, and diving are highly oradea pictures restricted in order to preserve the coral reefs, fish stocks, and beaches. You can visit many of the beaches by car, but plan to take a boat tour. Looking back at the twin peaks of the soaring green Piton mountains is worth every Eastern Caribbean oradea pictures dollar you spend for a guide.

More than two-thirds oradea pictures of Dominica s land surface is primary rainforest, making it perhaps the most untouched island in the Caribbean. St. Lucia is also predominantly rural, and much of its interior rainforest has been preserved, even though early colonists carved plantations out of huge chunks of the original forest. Modern developers have built exclusive resorts on prime land, and many more would like the opportunity to claim a prize piece of paradise. Nevertheless, conservation groups on both islands are doing a fine job of curtailing the rampant development that has plagued some of their Caribbean neighbors.

The zandoli t ground lizard lives only on the two Maria Islands and nearby Preslin Island. Males have a bright blue tail and yellow belly. Females are brown with dark stripes. The kouw s snake lives only on Maria Major. It is green and brown and grows up to three feet long. Another nature reserve is located on the Fr gate Islands. These two rocky chunks of land are named Fr gate Major and Fr gate Minor for the thieving, fork-tailed, jet-black frigate birds that live there. Boa constrictors (light brown and locally known as t te chien) and fer-de-lance oradea pictures (tan with orange, diamond-shaped markings) snakes live in the tall grass on the islands, but they are quite shy and rarely seen. You can t visit the Fr gates themselves, but the National Trust has an interpretive center on St. Lucia s east coast, directly across from the close-in islands. You must be accompanied by a guide on the mile-long walking trail, which loops through lush greenery past a waterfall and mangrove swamp. An observation point provides an excellent view of the islands. Call the National Trust in advance, 758-452-5005, to arrange admittance to the center. The entrance fee of EC$55/US$20 includes a guided walking tour.

Deep water near Dominica s sheltered west coast is an ideal breeding and calving ground for sperm whales, a species rarely seen in other parts of the world. Experts think eight to 12 of the huge mammals live in the area year-round, and seven types of whales and 11 types of dolphins have been seen within five miles of the island at various times of the year. You have