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France · Shield volcano

Piton de Takamaka

Fournaise, Piton de la

Type
Shield volcano
Elevation
2632m
Last eruption
2026
Piton de Takamaka
Photo: Alexandre Péribé · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Shield volcano
Country
France
Region
Somalian & Antarctic / Reunion Hotspot Volcano Group
Elevation
2632m
Coordinates
-21.244, 55.708
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Intraplate / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Shield
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-basalt
Geological summary

Piton de la Fournaise is a massive basaltic shield volcano on the French island of Réunion in the western Indian Ocean. Much of its more than 530,000-year history overlapped with eruptions of the deeply dissected Piton des Neiges shield volcano to the NW. Three scarps formed at about 250,000, 65,000, and less than 5,000 years ago by progressive eastward slumping, leaving large embayments open to the E and SE. Numerous pyroclastic cones are present on the floor of the scarps and their outer flanks. Most recorded eruptions have originated from the summit and flanks of Dolomieu, a 400-m-high lava shield that has grown within the youngest scarp, which is about 9 km wide and about 13 km from the western wall to the ocean on the E. More than 150 eruptions, most of which have produced fluid basaltic lava flows, have occurred since the 17th century. Eruptions in 1708, 1774, 1776, 1800, 1977, and 1986 originated from fissures outside the scarps.

Eruption history

204 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
2795 BCE~2602 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 51831 BCE~1638 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?98~290 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 0290~483 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 0483~676 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 0869~1062 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01255~1447 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 01447~1640 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 01640~1833 · 51 eruptions · max VEI 21833~2026 · 142 eruptions · max VEI 22795 BCE1638 BCE481 BCE6761833

Detailed timeline

  1. 2026VEI ?Observed
    2026-02-13 – 2026-03-31
  2. 2023VEI 0Observed
    2023-07-02 – 2023-08-10
    N of Piton Vouvoul
  3. 2022VEI 0Observed
    2022-09-19 – 2022-10-05
  4. 2021VEI 0Observed
    2021-04-09 – 2021-05-24
    Enclos Fouque caldera, 700 m S of Château Fort
  5. 2021VEI 0Observed
    2021-12-22 – 2022-01-17
    S flank of Enclos Fouque, SE of Piton Kala Pélé and SW of Château Fort
  6. 2020VEI 0Observed
    2020-02-10 – 2020-04-06
    E flank of Dolomieu cone between the rim and 2,000 m elevation
  7. 2020VEI 0Observed
    2020-12-07 – 2020-12-08
    WSW flank of Dolomieu cone at elevations between 2,300 and 2,190 m
  8. 2019VEI 0Observed
    2019-02-18 – 2019-03-10
    base of E flank of Dolomieu cone, at the foot of Piton Madoré
  9. 2019VEI 0Observed
    2019-06-11 – 2019-10-27
    SSE flank of Dolomieu cone
  10. 2018VEI 0Observed
    2018-04-03 – 2018-11-01
    N side of Enclos Fouque, just below the rampart at the Nez Coupé de Sainte Rose
  11. 2017VEI 0Observed
    2017-01-31 – 2017-02-27
    1 km SE of Château Fort and about 2.5 km ENE of Piton de Bert
  12. 2017VEI 0Observed
    2017-07-14 – 2017-08-28
    750 m E of the Kala-Pélé peak, 850 m W of Château Fort, and 2.2 km NE of Piton de Bert
  13. 2016VEI 0Observed
    2016-05-26 – 2016-05-27
    1-1.5 km SE of Castle crater
  14. 2016VEI 0Observed
    2016-09-11 – 2016-09-18
    N part of l'Enclos Fouqué caldera, between Puy Mi-côte and July 2015 eruption site
  15. 2015VEI 0Observed
    2015-05-17 – 2015-10-31
    SE of Dolomieu cone, in the Castle crater area
  16. 2015VEI 0Observed
    2015-02-04 – 2015-02-15
    S flank of Dolomieu cone, W of Bory crater
  17. 2014VEI 0Observed
    2014-06-21 – 2014-06-21
    ESE flank of Dolomieu crater
  18. 2010VEI 0Observed
    2010-10-14 – 2010-12-10
    Fissure near Château Fort crater, 1.5 km SE of Dolomieu crater rim
  19. 2009VEI 1Observed
    2009-11-05 – 2010-01-12
    S part of Dolomieu crater, SE and E flanks of Dolomieu cone
  20. 2008VEI 1Observed
    2008-09-12 – 2009-02-04
    W wall of Dolomieu crater
  21. 2006VEI 1Observed
    2006-07-20 – 2007-05-01
    SW and S flanks, Dolomieu cone
  22. 2005VEI 0Observed
    2005-02-17 – 2005-02-26
    N side of Enclos Fouque, near Nez Coupé de Sainte Rose and Trou de Sable
  23. 2005VEI 0Observed
    2005-10-04 – 2006-01-18
    W part of Dolomieu crater
  24. 2004VEI 1Observed
    2004-05-02 – 2004-10-14
    SSW of Bory crater, S flank of Dolomieu, S border of Enclos Fouque
  25. 2003VEI 0Observed
    2003-05-30 – 2004-01-10
    SW Dolomieu crater
  26. 2002VEI 0Observed
    2002-01-05 – 2002-01-16
    NE part of l'Enclos Fouqué caldera
  27. 2002VEI 2Observed
    2002-11-16 – 2002-12-23
    E flank of Dolomieu cone (1850-1540 m)
  28. 2001VEI 0Observed
    2001-03-27 – 2001-07-07
    ESE flank of Dolomieu cone
  29. 2000VEI 0Observed
    2000-02-14 – 2000-03-04
    North flank of Dolomieu cone (2490-2250 m)
  30. 2000VEI 1Observed
    2000-06-23 – 2000-11-13
    SE flank between "Signal de l' Enclose" and "Château Fort" craters
  31. 1999VEI 0Observed
    1999-07-19 – 1999-10-23
    inside Dolomieu crater, N and E flanks
  32. 1998VEI 1Observed
    1998-03-09 – 1998-09-21
    N flank of Dolomieu crater
  33. 1992VEI 1Observed
    1992-08-27 – 1992-09-23
    S rim of Dolomieu crater and upper SE flank
  34. 1991VEI 0Observed
    1991-07-19 – 1991-07-20
    S edge of Dolomieu crater and upper E flank
  35. 1990VEI 0Observed
    1990-01-18 – 1990-05-08
    SE Dolomieu crater and upper SE flank
  36. 1987VEI 0Observed
    1987-06-10 – 1987-07-20
    Dolomieu crater, S and W
  37. 1987VEI 0Observed
    1987-11-06 – 1988-12-29
    N flank of Dolomieu crater, 1 km N, 1 km NE
  38. 1986VEI 0Observed
    1986-07-13 – 1986-07-14
    inside the 29 March pit crater, Dolomieu crater, SE
  39. 1986VEI 1Observed
    1986-11-12 – 1987-02-10
    inside the 29 March pit crater, Dolomieu crater, SE
  40. 1985VEI 1Observed
    1985-06-14 – 1986-04-05
    SW flank of Dolomieu
  41. 1983VEI 2Observed
    1983-12-04 – 1984-02-18
    SSW flank of Dolomieu (2110-2300 m)
  42. 1981VEI 2Observed
    1981-02-03 – 1981-05-05
    Bory, SW, N & NE of Dolomieu
  43. 1979VEI 1Observed
    1979-05-28 – 1979-07-14
    SE, SW and N flanks, Dolomieu & Bory
  44. 1977VEI 0Observed
    1977-03-24 – 1977-04-16
    NE and SE of Dolomieu, NE rift zone
  45. 1977VEI 1Observed
    1977-10-24 – 1977-11-17
    ENE flank (2050-2200 m, 1850-1920 m)
  46. 1976VEI 1Observed
    1976-11-02 – 1976-11-04
    North of Dolomieu (2250-2330 m)
  47. 1975VEI 1Observed
    1975-11-04 – 1976-04-06
    Dolomieu and SE flank (1320-2350 m)
  48. 1973VEI 2Observed
    1973-05-10 – 1973-09-05
    Dolomieu (SSW wall)
  49. 1972VEI 2Observed
    1972-06-09 – 1973-01-16
    South, ENE, north and SE of Dolomieu
  50. 1966VEI 2Observed
    1966-03-15 – 1966-05-15
    SE flank (Cratere Maillard, 2400 m)
  51. 1964VEI 2Observed
    1964-04-30 – 1964-05-08
    Dolomieu, upper east and NE flanks
  52. 1964VEI 2Observed
    1964-12-21 – 1965-02-15
    East flank (1930 m)
  53. 1963VEI 2Observed
    1963-11-07 – 1963-11-21
    Dolomieu; upper E flank (2,410 m)
  54. 1961VEI 0Observed
    1961-04-05 – 1961-04-25
    NE flank (east of Cratère Picard)
  55. 1960VEI 2Observed
    1960-01-11 – 1960-03-10
    Bory, south flank (2030 m)
  56. 1959VEI 2Observed
    1959-03-11 – 1959-08-06
    Bory
  57. 1958VEI 2Observed
    1958-05-30 – 1958-09-20
    Dolomieu
  58. 1957VEI 2Observed
    1957-09-02 – 1957-11-16
    Bory, N of Bory, NE of Dolomieu
  59. 1955VEI 2Observed
    1955-07-06 – 1957-03-16
    Dolomieu, Bory, S, SE & ESE flanks
  60. 1954VEI ?Observed
    1954-01-16 – 1954-12-16
  61. 1953VEI 2Observed
    1953-03-13 – 1953-07-08
    South, NW & N flanks, Dolomieu, Bory
  62. 1952VEI 2Observed
    1952-05-19 – 1952-07-20
    NE flank near north rim (1500 m)
  63. 1951VEI 0Method not stated
    1951-06-16 – end unknown
    North part of Grand Brule
  64. 1951VEI 1Observed
    1951-09-10 – 1951-09-20
  65. 1950VEI 2Observed
    1950-02-25 – 1950-04-02
    South flank (2080 m)
  66. 1950VEI 2Observed
    1950-08-30 – 1950-09-05
    SE of Bory
  67. 1949VEI 2Method not stated
    1949-10-16 – end unknown
  68. 1948VEI 2Observed
    1948-02-14 – 1948-03-08
    South flank (le Chateau Fort)
  69. 1947VEI 2Observed
    1947-07-02 – end unknown
    Dolomieu, Grand Brule
  70. 1946VEI 2Observed
    1946-06-18 – 1946-07-05
    Dolomieu crater and upper flanks
  71. 1945VEI 2Observed
    1945-04-15 – 1945-05-06
    SE flank near Nez Coupe du Tremblet
  72. 1944VEI 2Observed
    1944-04-11 – 1944-05-01
  73. 1943VEI 2Observed
    1943-03-30 – 1943-05-26
    SE of Dolomieu, lower Grandes Pentes
  74. 1942VEI 2Observed
    1942-10-05 – 1942-10-25
    Bory, rim of Dolomieu
  75. 1941VEI 1Observed
    1941-07-02 – end unknown
  76. 1938VEI 1Observed
    1938-07-25 – 1938-07-29
  77. 1938VEI 2Observed
    1938-12-07 – 1939-01-15
    ESE and SW flanks, Dolomieu
  78. 1937VEI 2Observed
    1937-08-13 – 1937-11-25
    Bory, flanks of Bory and Dolomieu
  79. 1936VEI 0Observed
    1936-09-16 – end unknown
    Near 1933 crater
  80. 1935VEI 2Observed
    1935-07-02 – end unknown
  81. 1933VEI 2Observed
    1933-06-07 – 1934-04-01
    Dolomieu, upper and SE flanks
  82. 1932VEI ?Observed
    1932-11-14 – 1932-11-16
  83. 1931VEI 2Observed
    1931-01-22 – 1931-08-26
    Summit, NE flank (Cratère Haug)
  84. 1930VEI 0Observed
    1930-05-23 – 1930-05-24
  85. 1929VEI 2Observed
    1929-12-23 – 1929-12-31
  86. 1926VEI 2Observed
    1926-09-18 – 1927-06-15
    North flank
  87. 1925VEI 2Observed
    1925-12-30 – 1926-04-20
  88. 1924VEI 0Observed
    1924-05-19 – 1924-05-23
  89. 1924VEI 2Observed
    1924-09-03 – 1924-09-13
  90. 1921VEI 2Observed
    1921-11-27 – 1921-12-03
  91. 1920VEI 0Observed
    1920-06-28 – 1920-10-18
  92. 1917VEI 0Observed
    1917-04-29 – 1917-04-29
    NE flank (above Piton de Crac)
  93. 1915VEI 2Observed
    1915-07-22 – 1915-11-21
    Summit, N and NE of Crater Velain
  94. 1913VEI 2Observed
    1913-07-10 – 1913-08-03
  95. 1910VEI 2Observed
    1910-11-16 – 1910-12-12
  96. 1909VEI 2Observed
    1909-04-16 – end unknown
    East of Cratère Faujas
  97. 1908VEI 0Method not stated
    1908-07-02 – end unknown
  98. 1907VEI 0Observed
    1907-11-29 – 1907-12-05
  99. 1905VEI 2Observed
    1905-02-15 – 1905-02-16
  100. 1904VEI 2Observed
    1904-08-19 – 1904-10-17
    NE flank (above Piton de Crac)
  101. 1903VEI 0Observed
    1903-07-02 – end unknown
  102. 1902VEI 2Observed
    1902-08-13 – 1902-08-18
  103. 1901VEI 2Observed
    1901-02-21 – 1901-02-25
    East of Dolomieu
  104. 1901VEI 2Observed
    1901-07-04 – 1901-07-06
    NE flank (above Piton de Crac)
  105. 1900VEI 0Observed
    1900-05-11 – 1900-05-30
    East of Dolomieu
  106. 1899VEI 2Observed
    1899-02-13 – 1899-07-18
  107. 1898VEI 2Observed
    1898-01-14 – 1898-01-20
  108. 1898VEI 2Observed
    1898-11-26 – end unknown
  109. 1897VEI 0Observed
    1897-01-05 – 1897-01-24
  110. 1894VEI 2Observed
    1894-08-16 – end unknown
  111. 1890VEI 2Observed
    1890-02-16 – 1891-02-04
    Summit, Grandes Pentes
  112. 1889VEI 2Observed
    1889-06-16 – 1889-08-11
    Grandes Pentes and summit
  113. 1884VEI 0Observed
    1884-02-04 – 1884-02-05
  114. 1882VEI 0Method not stated
    1882-07-02 – end unknown
  115. 1878VEI 0Observed
    1878-03-14 – 1878-03-30
  116. 1876VEI ?Observed
    1876-12-11 – 1876-12-11
  117. 1875VEI 0Observed
    1875-11-26 – 1875-12-11
  118. 1874VEI ?Observed
    1874-02-01 – end unknown
  119. 1874VEI 2Observed
    1874-06-29 – 1874-11-07
  120. 1872VEI 0Method not stated
    1872-02-01 – end unknown
  121. 1871VEI 0Observed
    1871-06-21 – 1871-07-05
  122. 1870VEI 0Method not stated
    1870-02-01 – end unknown
  123. 1869VEI 2Observed
    1869-07-02 – end unknown
  124. 1868VEI 0Observed
    1868-03-16 – end unknown
  125. 1865VEI 2Observed
    1865-02-05 – 1865-02-10
  126. 1863VEI 0Observed
    1863-12-20 – 1864-01-29
  127. 1861VEI 2Observed
    1861-03-19 – 1861-03-19
    Brulant
  128. 1860VEI 2Observed
    1860-01-22 – 1860-03-20
    Dolomieu and l'Enclos
  129. 1859VEI 2Observed
    1859-05-08 – 1859-05-23
  130. 1858VEI 2Observed
    1858-11-03 – 1859-01-16
  131. 1852VEI 0Observed
    1852-07-02 – end unknown
    Brulant
  132. 1851VEI 0Observed
    1851-07-02 – end unknown
    Brulant, l'Enclos Velain
  133. 1850VEI 0Observed
    1850-11-03 – 1850-11-12
  134. 1849VEI 0Observed
    1849-07-02 – end unknown
  135. 1848VEI 0Observed
    1848-07-02 – end unknown
  136. 1847VEI 0Observed
    1847-07-02 – end unknown
  137. 1846VEI 0Observed
    1846-07-02 – end unknown
  138. 1845VEI 0Observed
    1845-07-02 – end unknown
  139. 1844VEI 2Observed
    1844-03-19 – 1844-05-11
    Summit and Piton de Crac
  140. 1844VEI 2Observed
    1844-12-16 – end unknown
  141. 1843VEI 0Observed
    1843-07-02 – end unknown
  142. 1842VEI 0Observed
    1842-04-16 – end unknown
  143. 1832VEI 0Observed
    1832-03-16 – end unknown
    L'Enclos and NE rift zone
  144. 1830VEI 0Observed
    1830-10-16 – end unknown
    Cratere Faujas
  145. 1824VEI 0Observed
    1824-02-16 – end unknown
  146. 1824VEI 0Observed
    1824-12-16 – end unknown
  147. 1821VEI 2Observed
    1821-02-27 – 1821-04-10
  148. 1820VEI 2Observed
    1820-01-16 – 1820-02-16
    NW rift zone
  149. 1817VEI 0Observed
    1817-01-16 – 1817-04-16
  150. 1816VEI 0Observed
    1816-12-15 – end unknown
  151. 1815VEI 2Observed
    1815-01-21 – 1815-01-27
  152. 1815VEI 2Observed
    1815-08-15 – 1815-08-16
    Summit and Plaine des Osmondes
  153. 1814VEI 2Observed
    1814-09-10 – 1814-10-13
  154. 1813VEI 2Observed
    1813-09-26 – 1813-11-26
  155. 1812VEI 2Observed
    1812-08-05 – 1812-12-16
    Summit and above Piton de Crac
  156. 1810VEI 0Observed
    1810-11-20 – 1810-11-28
  157. 1809VEI 2Observed
    1809-07-17 – 1809-08-08
  158. 1807VEI 2Observed
    1807-03-23 – 1807-06-13
  159. 1802VEI 2Observed
    1802-12-16 – end unknown
  160. 1801VEI 2Observed
    1801-10-27 – 1802-04-28
    Mammelon Central
  161. 1800VEI 0Observed
    1800-11-02 – 1800-11-08
    SE rift zone
  162. 1797VEI 0Observed
    1797 – end unknown
  163. 1795VEI ?Observed
    1795 – end unknown
  164. 1794VEI 0Observed
    1794-01 – 1794-01
  165. 1792VEI 0Observed
    1792-12-19 – end unknown
  166. 1791VEI 2Observed
    1791-06-05 – 1791-07-27
    Dolomieu, Mamelon Central ?
  167. 1789VEI 2Observed
    1789-06 – 1789-07
    East side of summit cone and Bory crater
  168. 1787VEI 2Observed
    1787-06-14 – 1787-08-01
    Bory
  169. 1786VEI 2Observed
    1786-06-05 – 1786-08-04
  170. 1784VEI 2Observed
    1784 – 1785
  171. 1776VEI 0Observed
    1776 – end unknown
    SE rift zone (Piton Takamaka)
  172. 1775VEI 2Observed
    1775 – end unknown
    East side of summit cone
  173. 1774VEI 0Observed
    1774-07-02 – end unknown
    SE rift zone
  174. 1772VEI 2Observed
    1772-02 – end unknown
  175. 1772VEI 2Observed
    1772-11-18 – end unknown
  176. 1771VEI ?Observed
    1771 – end unknown
  177. 1768VEI 2Observed
    1768 – end unknown
    Formica Leo
  178. 1766VEI 2Observed
    1766-03 – 1766-05-26
  179. 1760VEI 2Observed
    1760-12-15 – 1760-12-29
    East flank
  180. 1759VEI ?Observed
    1759 – end unknown
  181. 1753VEI 2Observed
    1753 – end unknown
  182. 1751VEI 2Observed
    1751-06 – 1751-06
  183. 1734VEI 2Observed
    1734-01-01 – 1734-03-06
  184. 1734VEI 2Observed
    1734-12 – 1734-12
  185. 1733VEI 0Observed
    1733 – end unknown
    L'Enclos and NE rift zone
  186. 1721VEI 2Observed
    1721-06 – end unknown
  187. 1709VEI 2Observed
    1709 – end unknown
  188. 1708VEI 0Observed
    1708-04 – 1708-04
    NE rift zone
  189. 1703VEI 0Observed
    1703 – 1705
  190. 1672VEI 0Observed
    1672 – end unknown
  191. 1671VEI 0Observed
    1671 – end unknown
  192. 1669VEI 0Observed
    1669 – end unknown
  193. 1649VEI 0Observed
    1649 – end unknown
  194. 1640VEI 0Observed
    1640 – end unknown
  195. 1600VEI 0Geological estimate
    1600 – end unknown
    S rift zone (Piton Taye Poule)
  196. 1440VEI 0Geological estimate
    1440 – end unknown
    Upper NW flank (Petit Cratère)
  197. 1340VEI 0Geological estimate
    1340 – end unknown
    South rift zone (Brulé du Baril)
  198. 960VEI 0Geological estimate
    960 – end unknown
    Upper W flank (Piton Chisny)
  199. 600VEI 0Geological estimate
    600 – end unknown
    Upper NW flank (Piton Gîte)
  200. 455VEI 0Geological estimate
    455 – end unknown
  201. 120VEI 0Geological estimate
    120 – end unknown
    Upper NW flank (Cratère Commerson)
  202. 1785 BCE (±90 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1785 BCE – end unknown
  203. 2765 BCE (±145 yrs)VEI 5Geological estimate
    2765 BCE – end unknown
  204. 2795 BCE (±130 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    2795 BCE – end unknown

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