Réunion Island Lava Reaches the Sea

What Happened

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Réunion Island Lava Reaches… Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search Lava flows east in this thermal image captured by the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 9 on March 28, 2026.

Why It Matters

NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison Located 700 kilometers (440 miles) east of Madagascar, Réunion Island is the product of a long-lived mantle hotspot on the floor of the Indian Ocean.

Key Details

The island first emerged above the ocean’s surface about 2 million years ago.
It remains active today, with frequent eruptions from Piton de la Fournaise, a shield volcano on the island’s eastern side.
Since the 17th century, the volcano has had more than 150 documented eruptions.
The most recent began within the Enclos Fouqué caldera on February 13, 2026, with the opening of four fissures that fueled sustained lava fountains reaching 10 to 50 meters (30 to 160 feet).

Background Context

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Source: NASA – Original Link

Source: NASA