Piton des Neiges
{{Short description|Shield volcano in northwest Réunion, Indian Ocean}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Piton des Neiges
| other_name = Snow Peak
| photo = Piton des neiges.jpg
| photo_caption = Piton des Neiges, October 2003
| elevation_m = 3070
| prominence_m = 3070
| prominence_ref = {{Cite web |title=World Ribus – Indian Ocean Islands
|url=https://worldribus.org/indian-ocean-islands/|access-date=2024-12-25 |website=World Ribus}}
Ranked 82nd
| listing = Ultra
Ribu
| translation = Snow Peak
| language = French
| location = Réunion, Indian Ocean
| map = Réunion
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map_size =
| label = Piton des Neiges
| label_position =
| coordinates = {{coord|21|05|54|S|55|28|51|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo =
| type = Complex volcano
| age = Pliocene
| last_eruption = 20,000 years ago
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route =
}}
The Piton des Neiges (Snow Peak) is a {{convert|3,069|m|ft|abbr=on}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-17 |title=Reunion {{!}} History, Location, Map, Population, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Reunion |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} complex volcano on Réunion, one of the French volcanic islands in the Mascarene Archipelago in the southwestern Indian Ocean. It is located about {{convert|800|km|mi|-1}} east of Madagascar. Piton des Neiges is the highest point on Réunion and considered to be the highest point in the Indian Ocean. Piton des Neiges is ranked 82nd by prominence.
History and geology
Piton des Neiges was formed by the Réunion hotspot and emerged from the sea about two million years ago.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} The volcano has been inactive for 20,000 years. Réunion itself is considered to be about three million years old; the other two islands in the archipelago, Mauritius and Rodrigues, are 7.8 million and 1.5 million years old, respectively.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
The Piton des Neiges forms the northwestern two-thirds of Réunion,{{Cite web |title=Piton des Neiges from La Plaine des Cafres Hiking Trail, Cilaos, Reunion |url=https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7052753/piton-des-neiges-from-la-plaine-des-cafres |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Hiking Project |language=en-US}} with the very active Piton de la Fournaise comprising the rest. Additionally, it is surrounded by three massive crater valleys. As its name suggests, snow is occasionally seen on its summit in winter. Piton des Neiges is ranked 14th in the world by topographic isolation.{{Cite web |title=World's Highest Topographically isolated summits {{!}} For UNESCO World Heritage Travellers |url=https://www.worldheritagesite.org/connection/World's+Highest+Topographically+isolated+summits |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=www.worldheritagesite.org}}
The island possesses a high endemism of flowering plants (about 225); this has justified the creation of a biological reserve on the lower slopes of the Piton des Neiges.
{{wide image|Pîton des Neiges Panorama.jpg|1330px|A panoramic view near to the Gîte de la Caverne Dufour.}}
Hiking
Image:Reunion 21.12S 55.51E.jpg
Three tracks lead up to the peak: one from the Cirque de Salazie, another from the Cirque de Cilaos, and the third from Plaine des Cafres. They meet at a staffed mountain hut about an hour's walk below the peak.
The hike starting from Cilaos spans 8.9 miles, typically taking an average of 8.5 hours to complete.{{Cite web |title=Piton des Neiges, Saint-Pierre, Réunion - 265 Reviews, Map {{!}} AllTrails |url=https://www.alltrails.com/trail/reunion/saint-pierre/piton-des-neiges |access-date=July 26, 2024}} Although this is feasible in a single day, most hikers prefer to stay overnight at the mountain hut, Gîte de la Caverne Dufour. This hike is considered challenging due to the {{Convert|1736|m|ft}} elevation gain.
The hike starting from la Plaine des Cafres is much longer, at 19.6 miles, and a similar elevation gain of {{Convert|4691|ft|m}}.
{{stack|File:Sunrise from Piton Des Neiges.jpg}}
{{wide image|Réunion Piton des Neiges Lune.JPG|500px|Piton des Neiges at early morning seen from South-East}}
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Volcanoes}}}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/2001/01_03_29.html Reunion island]
- [http://www.randozone.com/iti.php?detail=10036 Hike starting from la Plaine des Cafres]
{{Commons category|Piton des Neiges}}
{{Authority control}}{{Highest points of Africa}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Neiges, Piton Des}}
Category:Shield volcanoes of France
Category:Pliocene shield volcanoes
Category:Pleistocene shield volcanoes
Category:Polygenetic shield volcanoes