Volcanic

and other Activity on Reunion Island

(source for photos above to be found at
International Volcano Research Center)

1st Row Left: A typical sunrise view during the eruption at Piton de la Fournaise.
1st Row Right: A view of the lava flows on their way to the Indian Ocean.

2nd Row Left: Closer view of one of the lava flows emptying into the Indian Ocean.
2nd Row Right: A view of all the lava flows as taken by the OVPF.

1st Row photos taken by Serge Gelabert. 2nd row left photo taken by Alex Genet. 2nd row right photo taken by the OVPF.

As of the 23rd of April the Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise, IPGP, Réunion, France reported that the eruption is still in progress in le Grand Brûlé: The trémor remains constant, the intensity of lava flow varies from one day to another. Seismics under the summit are always recorded, the walls of Dolomieu continue to be exhausted.

An important seismicity is always observed with the balance of the summit and a one kilometre depth to the lower part of the sea level. On the other hand no seismics in the area of Tremblet was observed. The magmatic chamber continues to be emptied. The gases "pistons" are in reduction at the summit but appear on the level of the eruption which explains the recrudescence of the noted fountains of lava this morning. Many inhabitants of Tremblet came as neighbours Saturday evening in summit from the slopes which dominate the enclosure of the volcano to be filled with wonder in front of the spectacle of lava flows. Work consisting in arranging a point of view of observation is in the course of security. Consequently, the access to the public remains prohibited.

The massive Piton de la Fournaise basaltic shield volcano on the French island of Réunion in the western Indian Ocean is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Much of its >530,000 year history overlapped with eruptions of the deeply dissected Piton des Neiges shield volcano to the NW. Three calderas formed at about 250,000, 65,000, and less than 5000 years ago by progressive eastward slumping of the volcano. Numerous pyroclastic cones dot the floor of the calderas and their outer flanks. Most historical eruptions have originated from the summit and flanks of Dolomieu, a 400-m-high lava shield that has grown within the youngest caldera, which is 8 km wide and breached to below sea level on the eastern side. More than 150 eruptions, most of which have produced fluid basaltic lava flows, have occurred since the 17th century. Only six eruptions, in 1708, 1774, 1776, 1800, 1977, and 1986, have originated from fissures on the outer flanks of the caldera. The Piton de la Fournaise Volcano Observatory, one of several operated by the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, monitors this very active volcano.

The volcano Piton de la Fournaise is currently at the ORANGE alert level.

The volcano Piton de la Fournaise was successfully forecasted by INTLVRC's programme ERUPTION Pro 10.6 to erupt in 2007 with 100.00% probability.

ON SLAVERY AND PERFECT COFFEE

PUBLIC RELATIONS History of the Island

Some 800 kilometers off the coast of Madagascar, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, lies one of the world’s most perfect islands: La Réunion. Many of the world’s finest coffees had their origins in the rich volcanic soil of Reunion Island’s mountainsides.

Discovered by Portuguese explorer Tristan da Cunha in 1505, the island has a fascinating (?) history. For centuries, this tropical jewel regularly changed hands between European naval powers.

With its perfect climate and mountainous terrain, the island proved ideally suited for coffee cultivation. Early in the 1700’s, the island became home to flourishing coffee estates. The finest coffee trees were transplanted to Eastern Africa to create the foundations of today’s fine estates in Kenya and Tanzania.

Reunion Island currently flies the FRENCH flag.

Reunion Island from space, via NASA

At one time, the Yemeni held a monopoly on all the coffee beans. These beans are what are referred to as ARABICA beans, as they came directly from Ethiopia, where beans were discovered (supposedly by a shepherd who was curious as to why his goats came home giddy and happy after wandering away. They were ingesting and celebrating caffeine and the delightful taste of coffee.

On 5 August 1665, Etienne Regnault was sent to Bourbon by the Compagnie Française des Indes Orientales, which had a royal monopole on French trade in the Indian Ocean since 1664. Regnault was appointed Governor of Bourbon by Colbert. The twenty men who came with him were the first official colons in Bourbon. In March 1667, a fleet commanded by de Mondevergues called at Bourbon on its way to Fort-Dauphin. Five women were disembarked and Regnault was given Colbert's instructions for colonisation of the island.

A French military squadron, commanded by Lieutenant-General de la Haye, reached the island on 7 April 1671. De la Haye issued on 1 December 1674 a decree prescribing the organisation of the colony. Hunting was forbidden ("because it would made the colons lazy") and every colon had to rear two oxen, 400 poultries and twelve pigs and to grow rice, grains and vegetables. In 1685, the Compagnie Française des Indes Orientales took the control of Bourbon, then settled by 260 colons, and expelled the pirates who overran the coasts of the island.

A Provincial Council was created on 7 March 1711. In 1715, six Moka coffee trees were imported from Yemen. Coffee became the main production of the island and each colon had to grow 100 coffee trees. This cultivation was extremely time and labour consuming, which caused the introduction of slavery on Bourbon.

The regulation from 29 January 1727 stated that the Governor should stay alternatively six months in Ile-de-France (Mauritius) and six months in Bourbon. On 27 December 1730, a decree appointed the first permanent Governor of Bourbon, Dumas. However, Ile-de-France was favoured, especially during the rule of its governor Mahé de la Bourdonnais (1735-1746). Most maritime activity was located on Ile-de-France whereas Bourbon was used for staple food production (read: sugar, tea, coffee ...) *snip*

n 1806, the island was renamed Bonaparte and became a hot spot in the struggle against England for the control of the Indian Ocean. England seized the island in 1810 and introduced the cultivation of sugar cane. Not really interested in the island, England retroceded it to France in 1815. The island was renamed Bourbon during the Restauration. The name of Reunion was reestablished in 1848.

On 20 December 1848, General Commissioner of the Republic Sarda-Garriga proclaimed the abolition of slavery, freeing 62,000. Several Indian workers were imported to replace the former slaves and avoid an economical crisis. The end of the XIXth century was marked by the sugar crisis (1865), a slaughter on 2 December 1868 and a severe economical crisis caused by the opening of the canal of Suez in 1869.

Now, the Piton de la Fournaise is erupting AND there is a very nasty strain of virus going around which has been caught by the high 100,000's.

Source for some info to be found at: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/re.html#his

* * *

Reunion Island stands as an example of imperialism, resistance, extreme beauty and political intrigue, the use of chemicals and food production and what is now a real headache for the French!!