Oval-shaped Dolomieu crater, seen here in a 1973 aerial view from the NE, truncates the summit of a large lava shield that has grown in the summit caldera of Piton de la Fournaise volcano. The southern wall of the 8-km-wide caldera is visible at the upper right. The eastern rim of the smaller Bory crater at the right center is cut by Dolomieu crater. The unvegetated lava flows in the foreground originated in historical time from circumferential fissures near the summit of the lava shield.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1973.

Copyrighted image used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Contact photographer for any usage requests.

Piton de la Fournaise