Piton de la Fournaise (Volcano Week 7)
On the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, there are two volcanoes: Piton des Neiges has been inactive for 20,000 years, but Piton de la Fournaise in the south is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, having erupted 26 times since 2000. Piton de la Fournaise is a basaltic shield volcano and is 2,632 metres (8,635 ft) high – its name translating from French as ‘Peak of the Furnace’. The caldera is known as Enclos Fouque, and is 8 km (5 miles) wide and as been horseshoe shaped since the eastern side collapsed. The…