REUNION’S 23RD GRAND RAID 2015 GETS ‘ILLUMINATED’ BY THE PITON DE LA FOURNAISE
(Posted 16th October 2015)
Reunion’s annual cross country challenge, known as the ‘Grand Raid’ this year takes place from the 22nd to the 25th of October, in other words in less than a week. Competitors and spectators coming to the island to witness the main three races, the ‘Diagonal of Fools’(164 KM), the ‘Bourbon Trail’(97 KM) and finally ‘The Mascarene’ (65 KM) will also be able to see the ongoing fourth eruption of the island’s main active volcano, the Piton de la Fournaise, which in an almost unprecedented way has now been spitting its fiery lava for over 50 consecutive days.
Over the past day has the ongoing eruption again increased in intensity and the seismological station on the island recorded renewed volcanic activity. The larger lava flows, which can be safely watched from Bert Piton Trail – the view point can be reached after a one and a half hour walk – will provide an additional attraction to visitors unless they opt for a helicopter overflight to get an even wider picture of the eruption zone and the lava flows. (Reunion Tourism shows the spectacle via the following YouTube clip https://youtu.be/C6ztZR5Z2Hk).
These races are part of a global cross country challenge brought together under the brand 
With over 2.500 square kilometres in size is this French Indian Ocean island east of Madagascar a perfect example of how all clichés about tropical islands are met and then some more, with the conventional beaches lined by palm trees, coral reefs, turquoise coloured lagoons but also a rugged interior much of which has been turned into a national park and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For added information about Destination Reunion click on www.reunion.fr and to learn more about one of the island’s top rated sporting challenges visit www.grandraid-reunion.com
