Located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 200km southwest of Mauritius, Réunion island is one of the overseas departments of France. Similar to the Island of Hawaiʻi, as both are located above hotspots in the Earth's crust, it is 63km long and 45 km wide, and has a tropical climate. The terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous, with fertile lowlands along the coast. The Piton de la Fournaise, a shield volcano on the eastern end of the island, has erupted more than 100 times since 1640, most recently in 2010. The Piton des Neiges extinct volcano, the highest point on the island at 3,070m above sea level, is north west of the Piton de la Fournaise. Collapsed calderas and canyons are south west of the mountain. The slopes of both volcanoes are heavily forested. Offshore, part of the west coast is characterised by a coral reef system.
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