Piton du Bénard, Mountain summit in Réunion, France.
Piton du Bénard is the third highest peak on Reunion Island, rising to 2,896 meters above sea level. From here you can see across to the neighboring cirques of Mafate and Cilaos.
The paths to the summit were gradually established by the island's first settlers to create routes between the different volcanic cirques. These trails enabled exchange and connection between the isolated highland communities.
The name comes from Malagasy and means 'great passage', reflecting its historical role as a link between different island regions. Today hikers use this route to travel between the isolated cirques of the island.
The hike from Maido viewpoint takes about 7 hours round trip with an elevation gain of about 950 meters. The trail is demanding and requires good fitness and solid hiking experience.
On clear days hikers can see Mauritius Island on the horizon, located over 60 kilometers away. The summit slopes are covered with endemic Branle-vert plants that grow only in this region.
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