Réunion hotspot

The Réunion hotspot is a volcanic hotspot that is now located under the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. This hotspot has been active for over 65 million years and is linked to many important events in Earth's history. About 65 million years ago, a massive eruption from this hotspot formed the Deccan Traps, a huge area of basalt lava in central India. This eruption happened around the same time as a giant asteroid impact and the disappearance of the dinosaurs, leading scientists to wonder if these events might be connected.

As the Indian tectonic plate moved north, the hotspot kept erupting, creating a chain of volcanic islands and underwater areas. Places like the Laccadive Islands, the Maldives, and the Chagos Archipelago are what remain of these ancient volcanoes. More recently, the hotspot has been active under the African Plate, forming islands such as Mauritius, Réunion, and Rodrigues.

Today, the Piton de la Fournaise, a shield volcano on the southeastern part of Réunion, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, showing the ongoing power of the Réunion hotspot.