Sofaïa / Trois Cornes circular trail

7 points of interest

• 

  

  Flora

  Creeper plant

  You can see a magnificent creeper plant not far from the path.

• 

  

  River and waterfall

  Saut des Trois Cornes

  Le Saut des Trois Cornes with its fine waterfall.

• 

  

  Flora

  "Bwa bandé"

  Richeria grandis belongs to the Phyllanthaceae family. It is a large variety, distinctive for its tough leaves and reddish-brown bark that so often falls victim to rogue extraction. Also known as bwa bandé in Créole, it is renowned for its aphrodisiac qualities. Its wood is used as timber or in carpentry. It has very distinctive, green, grape-like fruits which form small pods and form copiously on its branches.

• 

  

  Geology

  Rock formations

  Large rock formations with a distinctive shape. Water, the primary erosion agent, works mechanically on the rocks, producing a polishing effect.
  A local mountaineering club has coined the term "The Dragon's Rock" to describe this rock.

• 

  

  Flora

  The Gommier

  The Gommier (Daryodes excelsa) can grow up to 35m high. When they are damaged, its white trunk and roots exude a white resin with a pungent turpentine smell, which is traditionally used as incense or to start fires, because it burns slowly regardless of the surrounding humidity. It is reported that the tree has the ability to cast out spirits. It is strictly forbidden to take away any plant parts from the National Park. Its trunk was used by American Indians to make their canoes (kanawa), and is still used today by coastal people from many tropical countries, such as Dominique, to make fishing vessels. Its green seeds are popular with pigeons.

• 

  

  Flora

  West Indian Mahogany

  The West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) is a robust species native to Ispagnola. This dry forest tree was initially planted as an ornamental feature for houses, but then spread elsewhere. Despite the wood being of extraordinary quality, it grew too slowly to be used in reforestation. When degraded forests needed to be revived and enriched, foresters turned to this tree for the task.

• 

  

  Flora

  Bamboo

  A member of the Poaceae family, bamboo is more closely related to grasses than to trees. Made up of a woody, hollow stalk, its stem grows extremely quickly. It is both a highly resistant and invasive species in Guadeloupe and concerted efforts are being made to put it to best use in crafts and construction.