Scotts Head, Dominica
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Scotts Head is a village on the southwest coast of Dominica, in Saint Mark Parish. In 2001, its population was 721. Predominantly a fishing village, Scotts Head overlooks Soufrière Bay, which is protected as the Soufrière Scotts Head Marine Reserve. It is also a popular snorkeling and diving site for tourists.
The village shares its name with the Caribbean's only tied island, a small peninsula with a rising headland that extends westward from the village at Dominica's southwest tip. The Carib name of the peninsula is Cachacrou, literally "that which is being eaten (by the sea)";[1] this is possibly a reference to its location at the convergence of the Caribbean Sea to its north and the Atlantic Ocean to its south.
At the top of the peninsula is the Scotts Head Lighthouse, a small lighted navigational aid[2] approximately 5 meters (16.4 ft) tall.[3] Also on the peninsula are the remains of the 18th century military battery, Fort Cachacrou.
Each year, in June or July, the Scotts Head village holds an annual feast in honor of Saint Peter.[4][5] The Scotts Head village also is host to Dive Fest, the Caribbean's longest running diving festival.[6] The festival includes scuba diving and freediving events, as well as food, entertainment, and competitions.[7][8]
Scotts Head is the start of the first segment of the Waitukubuli National Trail, the longest hiking trail in the Caribbean at 115 miles (185 km) long.[9][10][11] From Scott's head, hikers can hike 7 km (4.4 miles) to Soufriere Estate in about 4-6 hours.[9] Additionally, Scotts Head is the start of the Waitukubuli Sea Trail,[12][13] the first sea kayaking trail in the Caribbean.[14][12]