Réunion hotspot, Geological hotspot in Indian Ocean, France
The Réunion hotspot is a geological phenomenon beneath the island where magma continuously rises from the Earth's mantle into the crust. This underground activity directly feeds the Piton de la Fournaise and several other volcanic structures on and around the island.
The hotspot system formed about 65 million years ago and created the Deccan Traps, a massive basalt formation in central India. Over time, as the Indian plate moved, it generated a chain of islands and underwater mountains extending to present-day Réunion.
The site shapes how people understand volcanism in the region and attracts scientists studying how magmatic processes affect the environment. The ongoing geological activity has molded the local landscape and remains central to how residents understand their island.
The hotspot system lies beneath the island and is not directly accessible, but its effects are visible through volcanic activity. Visitors can best understand the hotspot's impact by exploring volcanic landscapes and scientific information centers around the island.
The hotspot system has left a long trail of geological formations stretching thousands of kilometers across the ocean floor. This underwater chain clearly shows how plates move over millions of years and create different landforms at the surface.
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