Piton de la Fournaise

Piton de la Fournaise
Piton de la Fournaise is a shield volcano
Highest point
Elevation2,621 m (8,599 ft)
Prominence1,027 m (3,369 ft)
ListingRibu
Coordinates21°14′33″S 55°42′32″E / 21.24250°S 55.70889°E / -21.24250; 55.70889
Naming
English translationPeak of the Furnace
Language of nameFrench
Geography
Piton de la Fournaise
Geology
Rock age530,000 year
Mountain typeShield volcano
Last eruptionAugust 2023
Climbing
First ascent21 September 1751

Piton de la Fournaise (French: [pitɔ̃ la fuʁnɛz]; English: "Peak of the Furnace") is a shield volcano on the eastern side of Réunion island, a French overseas department and region, in the Indian Ocean. It is currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world, along with Kīlauea in the Hawaiian Islands, Stromboli and Etna in Italy and Mount Erebus in Antarctica. A previous eruption began in August 2006 and ended in January 2007. The volcano erupted again in February 2007, on 21 September 2008, on 9 December 2010, which lasted for two days, and on 1 August 2015. The most recent eruption began on 15 September 2022. The volcano is located within Réunion National Park, a World Heritage Site.

Residents of Réunion sometimes refer to Piton de la Fournaise simply as le Volcan ("the Volcano"). It is a major tourist attraction.