volcanic mountain mass on the Caribbean island of Martinique, in the Lesser Antilles. The peaks are about 3.5 miles (6 km) from the west coast, standing between Saint-Pierre and Fort-de-France. They rise to 3,924 feet (1,196 metres) at Lacroix, 3,806 feet (1,160 metres) at Piquet, and more than 3,500 feet (1,100 metres) at Dumauzé, Alma, and Boucher. The highland extends in a northwest to southeast direction for about 50 miles (80 km). It is the source of the water that wells up in hot springs at the town of Absalon. An observatory for studying Mount Pelée was built in 1932.