What do the colors on the contour map of Piton de la Fournaise (2631m) mean?

The contour map uses a hypsometric color scale where green represents lower elevations, yellow and orange indicate mid-range altitudes, and white marks the highest zones near the summit. Thicker contour lines (index contours) are drawn at wider intervals to help you quickly estimate elevation.

What is the contour interval for Piton de la Fournaise (2631m)?

The contour map of Piton de la Fournaise (2631m) uses a 50m contour interval. This means each line represents a 50m change in elevation. Closely spaced contours indicate steeper terrain, while widely spaced contours show gentler slopes.

What does the elevation profile of Piton de la Fournaise (2631m) show?

The elevation profile is a cross-section through Piton de la Fournaise (2631m) from west to east, passing through the summit at 2,631m. It reveals the mountain's shape, steepness, and relative height compared to the surrounding terrain. The horizontal axis shows distance in kilometers from the peak.

Why does Piton de la Fournaise (2631m) have gentle slopes?

Piton de la Fournaise (2631m) is a shield volcano, built almost entirely from fluid lava flows. The contour map shows widely spaced lines, reflecting slopes that rarely exceed 5–10 degrees — much gentler than a stratovolcano.

Piton de la Fournaise (2631m)

Piton de la Fournaise stands at 2631 meters in Reunion, Africa. This peak is classified as a Shield Volcano.

Elevation

2631 m

Prominence

— m

Coordinates

-21.244000, 55.708000

Type

shield_volcano

Elevation Comparison

Volcanic

About This Mountain

Piton de la Fournaise (2631m) is a shield volcano in Reunion. Grade 2/5: moderate trek requiring good fitness. A well-regarded peak in its region, offering accessible terrain and panoramic views for fit hikers.

Routes

Enclos Crater Walk (Piton de la Fournaise) 2

10.00 km · 4.0h

Seasonal Conditions

Topographic Analysis

Contour Map

The topographic contour map of Piton de la Fournaise (2631m) shows widely spaced, gently curving contours reflecting broad, low-angle slopes. Contour lines are drawn at 50m intervals, with index contours (thicker lines) every 250m. The hypsometric color scale ranges from green (lower elevations) through yellow and orange to white (highest elevations near the 2,631m summit).

Elevation Profile

The east–west elevation profile of Piton de la Fournaise (2631m) shows the terrain cross-section through the summit at 2,631m. The color gradient transitions from green (valley floor) to white (summit zone), with the red summit marker indicating the peak.