Which extinct volcano is the highest point on Réunion island?

Piton des Neiges is the extinct volcano that forms the highest point on Réunion island.

Rising to roughly 3,069 metres, Piton des Neiges stands in the centre of Réunion, a French island in the Mascarene Archipelago east of Madagascar. It is the island’s highest summit and is also commonly described as the highest point in the Indian Ocean.

The volcano helped build much of Réunion through hotspot volcanism. Long erosion and repeated collapses carved the dramatic cirques of Mafate, Salazie, and Cilaos around its flanks. Its last eruption occurred about 20,000 years ago, so it is considered extinct, unlike the still-active Piton de la Fournaise on the island’s southeastern side.

Despite its name, Piton des Neiges does not carry permanent snow. Snowfall is rare and brief, although cold winter conditions can occasionally whiten the summit. Another common mistake is choosing Piton de la Fournaise because it is Réunion’s best-known volcano; that volcano is active, but it is not the island’s highest point. Piton des Neiges is also a challenging hiking destination, with trails approaching the summit from several cirques.