Between mistrust and curiosity, the progressive exploration of the volcano
Until the road was built in the 1960s, only a few adventurers made their way to the volcano. The subject of many popular legends, its flames were feared above all by the island's inhabitants, who were careful to keep their distance from the site. Paradoxically, it was the eruption of 1977, which devastated the village of Piton-Sainte-Rose, that sparked interest in the volcano and the need to monitor it. A volcanological observatory was set up to detect the slightest movements beneath the surface. Today, eruptions are reported at the very first sign, and can even be predicted a few days in advance with the increase in micro-earthquakes. Lava erupts either in the summit zone (the Dolomieu crater), or elsewhere in the Fouqué enclosure, and then flows downhill, into the enclosure or out to sea. Created in 1992 and completely renovated in 2010-2014, the Maison du volcan in Bourg-Murat is a must-see stop on the way back. It provides comprehensive explanations of how the volcano works, with sounds, images, objects and a 4D tour.
Tips for better observation
From now on, when the Fournaise erupts, the news spreads ("Volcan la pété!") in just a few hours, and everyone makes arrangements to visit, photograph and film. During the eruption, however, access to the enclosure is blocked by a metal barrier. Only those in possession of a prefectoral authorization will have the privilege of crossing it. Listen to the radio and find out when and how to access the best viewpoint (from the Pas de Bellecombe or the surrounding area) and whether the flow goes all the way down to the coast. Even from a distance, the spectacle of lava fountains and glowing skies is magnificent, especially at night. But don't forget to arm yourself with patience and a heavy sweater: during an eruption, the public authorities have to regulate access. The parking lots are full to bursting and the only road leading to the Pas de Bellecombe is quickly saturated. The only exception, since you can't go to the flows, is to wait for them to come to you, when they reach the ocean at Grand-Brûlé (Saint-Philippe). The meeting of water and lava is an incredible spectacle, steaming and bubbling, accessible to the public, but very rare: the last time was in 2007.
Significant eruptions
1961. The first eruption in modern times, it is exceptional in more ways than one. It was one of the few summit eruptions to explode with an ash plume 6,000 m high! It spilled its lava all the way to the sea, and was the scene of the first traffic jam of motorists who came to admire the spectacle, on the Route des Laves in Les Bas, as the Volcano Road did not yet exist at the time. The lava also engulfed the Vierge au Parasol for the first time, which had been installed since the early 20th century and was considered miraculous for having protected the farmlands of Bois-Blanc.
1977. In April, the volcano erupts outside its enclosure, whereas 95% of its eruptions usually take place inside. It passed through the village of Piton-Sainte-Rose (evacuated in time), destroying houses and a service station. One flow ended up in the sea, while another stopped dead in front of the church, which was immediately hailed as a miracle. The holy site was subsequently renamed "Notre-Dame-des-Laves".
1986. On March 20, a 700 m-long fissure opened up above the village of Takamaka, which had to be evacuated. The flow destroyed eight houses and ended up in the sea, enlarging the island by a few hectares at Table Point.
1998. After sleeping for more than six years, La Fournaise awoke to great fanfare, with an eruption that was described as the eruption of the century, and lasted for seven months! Over 30,000 spectators came from all over the island to enjoy the night-time show, complete with picnic and family.
2000 à 2003. In 2002, two new flows reach the sea for the first time since 1986. One of them cut through the national highway at the level of the Vierge au Parasol, fortunately unblocked in time. In 2003, four short eruptions: one lasted barely 3 hours, but it was the first time the volcano had taken a life. A student fell into a crevasse formed by the collapse of a lava vault, and since then, the enclosure has been systematically closed during eruptive and pre-eruptive periods.
2004. An exceptional vintage, with three flows, one of which lasted almost a month, including almost a week flowing into the sea. The memorable spectacle once again drew huge crowds, and traffic jams were once again unmanageable. A 9-hectare platform forms on the sea, further enlarging Réunion. The show is in full swing, as for the first time a crater opens up at sea level, a phenomenon that usually only happens at altitude. Fountains of roped-off lava gush dozens of meters into the air, while spectators are evacuated from the area.
2005. The first eruption of the year began on February 17 in the usual way. But on the 25th, the volcano took everyone by surprise, sending lava hurtling towards the sea and the Vierge au Parasol. At 4pm, although no lava flow was visible, the forest began to burn. By 7pm, the lava had already crossed the RN2 and by 11:45pm had reached the sea. It is feared that the village will be evacuated, as it was in 1977. At midnight, the Vierge au Parasol is taken down to save it once again. In the end, the village was not evacuated and the eruption ended on March 8.
2007. The eruption of the century! La Fournaise awakens in April to the delight of spectators. The Dolomieu crater collapsed 350 m, turning the summit landscape, unchanged since the 1930s, upside down. The path around the crater has since been closed to hikers, as it is too dangerous. The exceptionally abundant flows cut across the RN2 and flowed into the sea, a spectacle that has not been seen since. More than 50 m of lava was recorded, and it took almost a year for the road to reopen.
2008 à 2014. After all this spectacle, La Fournaise calmed down for a few years. Small eruptions occurred in 2008, 2009 and 2010, followed by a flat calm until 2014: no eruptions for four years, something that hadn't happened since the 1990s. In 2014, La Fournaise woke up timidly with a single "flash" eruption lasting less than 24 hours.
2015. La Fournaise picked up steam again, with four eruptions during the year. While the first two were spoiled by the weather, the third, in July, was spectacular: lava fountains dozens of meters high, visible from the Pas de Bellecombe on a full-moon night. Perfect conditions that drew crowds in the middle of a vacation weekend. Many were forced to turn back in the face of traffic jams, while others almost succumbed to hypothermia while waiting for the hastily-arranged shuttles. On the other hand, the early arrivals were in for a treat. August saw the fourth eruption, which lasted 69 days. Orange plumes were even visible from the south and east coasts.
2016. The 2016 vintage was less rich, with only two eruptions; the first lasted just 27 hours, not enough to be admired. The second lasted a week, and was visible from the Pas de Bellecombe, providing a spectacular spectacle for the lucky ones... and the brave ones who weren't afraid to brave the temperatures approaching 0°C.
2017. The volcano has been generous this year with three eruptions, two of which lasted more than a month. On July 14, 2017, it offered a fireworks display with an eruption visible from the Piton de Bert that delighted tourists and schoolchildren on vacation. It comes to an end after a six-week show.
2018. The first eruption of the year, in April, lasted just 17 hours, but the second, a few days later, lasted over a month. The third eruption, in July, lasted less than a day, but still produced beautiful lava fountains visible from the Bellecombe pass. Finally, the fourth and last one took place in September and lasted 47 days.
2019. 2019 has been a particularly active year for the volcano, with almost one eruption every two months: it started right at the beginning of the year with an eruption on February 18, a great Valentine's Day present! This gift lasted until March 10, before resuming on June 11. Both eruptions were visible from the RN2. On July 29, the volcano erupted again, but this time on the other side, at the Rosemont chapel. Easily visible from the Pas de Bellecombe, the eruption lasted just two days, but heralded major underground activity. In fact, the volcano began spitting again on August 11. Unseen for the first few days in dense fog, its red glow appeared from the RN2 on the second day as it descended towards the ocean. It stopped on August 15, 2 km from the ocean. On October 25, the volcano awakens again and flows at an astonishing speed. In just two days, the lava was 250 m from the national highway, which was closed for the occasion, and the DASH was sent in to slow the lava's progress. Tourists and locals alike flocked to see this spectacular eruption, and a trail was built to take a closer look. It finally died out on the 27th, as quickly as it had appeared.
2020. As in the previous year, the volcano got off to a flying start with its first eruption on February 10, which lasted seven days. The eruption swept down the slopes and, exceptionally, visitors were able to get up close and personal. It gave rise to a new cone that scientists named Jacques Picard, in tribute to the man who actively contributed to the development of knowledge about the volcano. This was followed by an eruption from April 2 to 6, which, due to its confined nature, could only be observed by holders of a certificate. A real ordeal for enthusiasts, who will only be able to see the glow from their computer screens. It should be noted that this eruption was particularly intense in its gas emissions and the formation of Pélé hair, a rare phenomenon on Réunion Island. These filaments of lava fall to the ground like the long golden hair that Hawaiians attributed to Pele, their volcano goddess.
2021. The first eruption of 2021 is one of Piton de la Fournaise's longest. The volcano erupted on April 9, during confinement (from 6pm to 5am) and ended on May 24, only to reawaken on December 22, 2021, offering an unprecedented display of fireworks for the festive season. The eruption ended on January 17, 2022.
2022-2023. Piton de la Fournaise erupted on September 19, 2022, ending on October 5. The volcanic cone of the eruption was named "Piton Tikal", in reference to the tales and legends of Réunion Island associated with Gran Mèr Kal. On July 2, 2023, the volcano erupted again, with a powerful start. Activity was concentrated in the fissure opening on the volcano's southeast flank, and the spectacle lasted for over a month. The eruption ends on August 10.
