La Fournaise, the Earth's fire

🌋 Piton de la Fournaise: An Active Geological Ballet in the Heart of Reunion Island! 🏞️

The 450,000-year-old Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has seen five eruptions in 2019, and is located in the south-east of Réunion Island.

🌋 A Geologically Remarkable Volcanic Massif :

This volcanic massif is a geological marvel, connected to the Piton des Neiges by hot-spot volcanism, where plumes from the lower mantle rise up, heating the crust and potentially forming volcanoes.

🏝️ The Mascarene Archipelago:

The Mascareignes archipelago, comprising Rodrigues, Mauritius and Réunion, is the result of this hot spot, with the Piton des Neiges dormant for 10,000 years and the Piton de la Fournaise active for 450,000 years, forming shield-shaped volcanoes.

🌋 Spectacular, But Generally Not Very Dangerous eruptions:

The eruptions of Piton de la Fournaise are spectacular but generally not very dangerous due to the composition of the lava, which has a low gas content and is very fluid, resulting in flows of basalt that shape the volcanic cone.

🌿 Ecological Succession: A Ballet Between Geology and Biology :

The ecological succession on the slopes of Piton de la Fournaise after the eruptions illustrates plant recolonisation, from pioneer lichens to the development of a forest, highlighting the dynamic interaction between geology and biology.

🎥 Travel to the heart of nature in Reunion Island :

This captivating video takes you to the heart of Piton de la Fournaise, where the perpetual dance between geological forces and biological life shapes a landscape of wild beauty and fascinating complexity.