Roseau

Roseau

Roseau is the capital and largest city of Dominica and the oldest and most important urban settlement on the island. It's a compact and small urban settlement in the parish of Saint George, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Roseau River and the Morne Bruce. Located on the west coast of Dominica, it is a combination of modern and colonial French architecture. In the nearby valley of Roseau, the Morne Trois Pitons National Park is home to Boiling Lake, waterfalls, thermal springs and scenic plateaus. Much of the park's area has preserved its natural habitat, and there are several different vegetation zones, tropical rainforest, secondary forest, deciduous forest, montane rainforest and dwarf forest. In the rainforest, large trees tower 30 to 40 meters high and have large roots. The trees are dotted with tree ferns and covered with epiphytes, including orchids and bromeliads. The mammals in the park include agoutis, wild boars, common possums, many small rodents and bats. Birds are abundant in the forest. There are four hummingbird species, the Rufous-Throated Solitaire, and two endemic parrots, the Imperial Amazon and the Red-Necked Amazon. There is also the endemic Dominican anole Anolis oculatus, and several species of tree frog. The Morne Bruce offers panoramic views over much of downtown Roseau and north to the deep-water port of Woodbridge Bay and Fond Cole, and beautiful views of the botanical gardens at the bottom, as well as the Caribbean Sea, which is spectacular when cruise ships are in port.