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Piton de la Fournaise

One of the Most Active Volcanoes on Earth

Elevation

2,632 m

Last Eruption

2023

Type

Shield volcano

Country

France

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Lava flows and fountaining
  • Volcanic gas emissions
  • Local explosive activity

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity3 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All France Volcanoes
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Shield volcano Volcanoes
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Réunion Island, Indian Ocean
Regional volcanoes
aerial photography of mountain range under cloudy sky during daytime

Claudio Büttler

via Unsplash

a mountain covered in fog and clouds on a sunny day

Héléna M.974

via Unsplash

a very large mountain with a cloudy sky above it

Dumur Gilles

via Unsplash

a very tall mountain with a small tree in the foreground

Oscar Brouchot

via Unsplash

Interesting Facts

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Piton de la Fournaise has erupted 203 times in recorded history, making it one of the three most frequently erupting volcanoes on Earth alongside Kīlauea and Stromboli.

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The volcano's Dolomieu Crater collapsed approximately 340 m (1,115 ft) during the April 2007 eruption — one of the most dramatic caldera-collapse events ever observed and monitored in real time.

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The church of Notre-Dame des Laves in Piton Sainte-Rose was encircled but completely spared by the 1977 lava flow, which split around the building and rejoined downslope.

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Piton de la Fournaise is the surface expression of the same deep-mantle hotspot that produced the Deccan Traps of India 66 million years ago, coinciding with the extinction of the dinosaurs.

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The full height of the volcanic edifice from the ocean floor to the summit is approximately 6,600 m (21,650 ft), making it comparable in total size to Mauna Loa.

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Between 1998 and 2023, the volcano erupted 40 times — an average of roughly one eruption every 7.5 months.

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The Plaine des Sables, a desolate lava plateau on the western approach to the volcano, has been used as a Mars analogue site for planetary science research due to its barren, extraterrestrial appearance.

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Only 6 of the volcano's 200+ historical eruptions have occurred outside the Enclos Fouqué caldera — yet these rare events pose the greatest risk to Réunion's 860,000 inhabitants.

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During the April 2007 eruption, lava entering the Indian Ocean extended Réunion's coastline by over 30 hectares (74 acres) of new land.

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The OVPF monitoring network includes over 70 permanent seismic stations, giving Piton de la Fournaise one of the densest monitoring arrays per unit area of any volcano on Earth.

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The longest eruption-free interval in recorded history was 5.5 years (April 1992 to March 1998), an anomaly for a volcano that typically erupts at least once a year.

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The mineral dolomite and the Dolomite mountains of Italy are named after Déodat de Dolomieu — the same scientist after whom the volcano's main crater is named.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Piton de la Fournaise still active?
Yes, Piton de la Fournaise is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. It last erupted on July 2, 2023, and has averaged roughly one eruption every 8–9 months over the past three decades. The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program classifies it as actively erupting. The volcano is continuously monitored by the OVPF observatory, which operates a dense network of seismometers, GPS stations, and gas sensors. Volcanologists consider another eruption highly probable within the near future, consistent with its centuries-long pattern of frequent effusive activity.
When did Piton de la Fournaise last erupt?
The most recent eruption began on July 2, 2023, from fissures north of Piton Vouvoul on the floor of the Enclos Fouqué caldera. Like most eruptions at this volcano, it was an effusive event producing basaltic lava flows and was rated VEI 0 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index. The eruption was preceded by seismic swarms and inflation detected by the OVPF monitoring network. Access to the caldera was closed before the eruption began, and no injuries or significant property damage occurred.
Is Piton de la Fournaise dangerous?
Piton de la Fournaise poses a relatively low risk compared to many active volcanoes, primarily because the vast majority of its eruptions are confined within the uninhabited Enclos Fouqué caldera. However, the volcano is not without danger. Rare eruptions outside the caldera — the most recent in 1977 and 1986 — have destroyed buildings and severed roads, directly threatening populated areas. Approximately 5,000 people live in potential hazard zones on the volcano's flanks. Additional risks include toxic volcanic gas, lava haze when flows enter the sea, and road closures isolating communities. The OVPF provides excellent early warning, significantly reducing the risk to life.
How many times has Piton de la Fournaise erupted?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program records 203 eruptions of Piton de la Fournaise, of which 197 are confirmed. Historical records begin with French colonization in the mid-17th century. The geological record extends to approximately 2795 BCE. Since 1640, the volcano has averaged roughly one eruption every two years, though the pace has accelerated in recent decades to approximately one eruption every 8–9 months. This makes it one of the three most frequently erupting volcanoes on the planet, alongside Kīlauea in Hawai'i and Stromboli in Italy.
What type of volcano is Piton de la Fournaise?
Piton de la Fournaise is a basaltic shield volcano — a broad, gently sloping volcanic structure built primarily from fluid lava flows rather than explosive debris. It is similar in type to Kīlauea and Mauna Loa in Hawai'i. Shield volcanoes form over hotspots or at divergent plate boundaries where low-viscosity basaltic magma erupts effusively. Piton de la Fournaise sits over the Réunion hotspot, a deep-mantle plume that has been active for 66 million years. Its eruptions typically produce fast-flowing lava rivers and lava fountains rather than the explosive ash columns characteristic of stratovolcanoes.
Can you visit Piton de la Fournaise?
Yes, Piton de la Fournaise is the most popular natural attraction on Réunion Island, visited by approximately 400,000 people annually. The standard hiking trail starts at the Pas de Bellecombe viewpoint (2,311 m), accessible by paved road from Bourg-Murat. The round-trip hike to the rim of Dolomieu Crater takes about 5 hours and covers 11 km. Access is free but regulated — the caldera is closed during eruptions and elevated alert levels. The Cité du Volcan museum in Bourg-Murat provides an excellent introduction to the volcano's geology. Réunion is reached by air from Paris, Mauritius, or Madagascar.
How tall is Piton de la Fournaise?
Piton de la Fournaise rises to 2,632 m (8,635 ft) above sea level at its highest point on the rim of the summit craters. However, the visible cone represents only part of the volcanic edifice: the base of the shield extends approximately 4,000 m (13,000 ft) below sea level to the ocean floor, giving a total height from base to summit of roughly 6,600 m (21,650 ft). This makes it comparable in total size to Mauna Loa in Hawai'i. Piton de la Fournaise is the second-highest point on Réunion Island, after the neighboring Piton des Neiges at 3,069 m (10,069 ft).
What happened during the 2007 eruption of Piton de la Fournaise?
The April 2007 eruption was the most significant event at Piton de la Fournaise in over a century. A large fissure opened at unusually low elevation (590 m) on the southeast flank, producing massive lava flows that reached the Indian Ocean and extended the coastline by over 30 hectares. As magma drained from beneath the summit, the floor of Dolomieu Crater collapsed approximately 340 m, creating a deep pit about 1,100 m long and 700 m wide. The total lava volume erupted was estimated at 150–200 million cubic meters. No fatalities occurred thanks to effective monitoring and evacuation.