Two streams of molten rock have divided a road on an island in half following an eruption from one of the most active volcanoes globally.
Impressive images depict lava coursing through a forest and traversing the Route Nationale 2 (RN2) on Réunion, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean. The lava emerged from Piton de la Fournaise, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated on the island’s eastern side. The volcano erupted on February 13, marking its second eruption of the year after a previous event on January 18, with ongoing lava flows and fountains continuing into March.
Piton de la Fournaise, meaning ‘Peak of the Furnace,’ is a shield volcano characterized by expansive, gradual slopes created by frequent, fluid basaltic lava flows, reminiscent of those observed in Hawaii. Standing at 8,635 feet above sea level, the volcano covers nearly a third of the island. This 500,000-year-old volcano typically erupts approximately once a year, releasing lava down the slopes of its five-mile-wide caldera.
The volcano erupts roughly every nine months on average without posing a threat to the island’s 860,000 inhabitants. In 2017 alone, it erupted three times, as reported by France’s official tourism website.
While eruptions mostly occur within the caldera, some lava flows extend to the RN2, connecting the municipalities of Saint-Philippe and Sainte-Rose.
The occurrence, last observed in 2007 according to Réunion’s prefecture, has led to a nine-mile stretch of the road being dubbed Route des Laves (‘Lava Route’) by locals. The road faced destruction multiple times in the early 2000s and necessitated significant engineering efforts to restore it once the lava had solidified.
Eruptions outside the caldera are uncommon, with only six documented instances, the most recent in 1986. In 1977, the Sainte-Rose municipality was evacuated before a lava flow crossed the highway, causing damage to several structures. The lava encircled a local church and entered through the entrance but ceased, miraculously sparing the building. The church was later reopened by locals under the name Notre-Dame des Laves (‘Our Lady of the Lavas’). Approximately 400,000 individuals visit the active volcano annually, as per France’s tourism website.
Réunion’s other volcano, Piton des Neiges (‘Snow Peak’), also a World Heritage site and the highest point on the island and in the entire Indian Ocean, soaring over 10,000 feet. Formation of this volcano began more than 2.4 million years ago and has been dormant for about 22,000 years, as per a 2012 paper published in the journal Geomorphology. Both volcanoes are encompassed within Réunion National Park, recognized for its diverse ecosystem.
