Morne Patates, Volcanic summit in Saint Mark Parish, Dominica.

Morne Patates is a volcanic summit in Saint Mark Parish, in the southern part of Dominica, covered with dense tropical forest. Its slopes are steep, and exposed volcanic rock appears at several points along the way up.

The summit was shaped by volcanic activity that built up the southern landscape of Dominica over a very long period. The island as a whole remains one of the more geologically active places in the Caribbean.

The name Morne Patates comes from the French Creole for sweet potato, a crop once grown on the lower slopes of such volcanic hills. The mountain rises inside the Soufrière crater, beside Morne Crabier, in Saint Mark Parish.

The hike to the top requires sturdy footwear and enough water, as the trails are steep and can be slippery. Visiting during the dry season, which runs roughly from December to April, gives the best conditions.

Morne Patates is a fairly regular volcanic cone that forms, together with Morne Crabier and its eastern spur, a smaller crater inside the Soufrière crater. The summit lies about 10 km south of Roseau, and the sea is close to the south.