Piton of Snows

The Piton of Snows is more the high summit of the island of the Meeting and of the Indian Ocean. It culminates with 3070,50 meters and has a basic diameter of approximately 50 kilometers.

The activity of the Piton of Snows would have started five million years ago. It emerged from the Indian Ocean 2,1 million years ago to give rise to the island of the Réunion. This Volcan eroded shield is not today any more in activity since more 12 000 years.

Rise

The rise of the Piton of Snows can be done since Salazie, Cilaos or the Plaine of the Kaffirs. Three paths converge since these starting points until the Caverne Dufour, refuge slightly below the top.

Since Salazie: for Hell-Borough, it is necessary to take the path which goes up to Ground-Punt then on the plate of Bélouve - Bébour. From there, one moves towards the Dufour cave. The path crosses forests of cryptomeria of Japan.

Since Cilaos: it is initially necessary to cross the Forêt of Large Matarum before reaching the Caverne Dufour and her lodging out of any notable vegetation. It is the shortest way but more testing.

Since the Flat of the Kaffirs: one needs pérégriner on the Kerveguen slope in direction of the Pond for Mud. As its name indicates it, this way is very wet, because of exposure of the full slope Is. It is long but easy and wild.

Altitude

The Piton of Snows culminates to 3070,50 m of altitude, it is the top highest of all the Mascareignes.

History

Like the Trapps of Deccan in India, the Maldives, the archipelago of the Chagos, Rodrigues and Maurice, the Piton of Snows exists thanks to the hot Point under the Asthénosphère. Approximately 5 million years ago, the Piton of Snows started to bore the oceanic crust of the Indian Ocean. Until 3 million years ago, it was an underwater volcano. Then it emerged and reached an altitude of 5000 meters above sea level. Because of the erosion, it does not culminate any more but with 3070 meters today.

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