Mafate

The Cirque de Mafate in the French Overseas Territory Reunion is the northwestern caldera of Piton des Neiges. The valley, which lies mostly in the municipality of La Possession, extending in a north-south direction over approximately ten kilometers in east-west direction over about five kilometers. From the summit of Grand Bénare the almost vertical rock walls drop from about 1,600 m. The Cirque de Mafate is the most isolated caldera in the region that can be reached only on foot or by helicopter. The supply of the local villages is nowadays mainly by helicopter until a few years ago in high dimensions on foot, mostly over the pass Col des Bœufs (1956 m), which can be achieved in a well-developed forest road from the Cirque de Salazie.

Since August 2010, are next to the Cirque de Mafate even the Cirque de Salazie, Cirque de Cilaos and the towering volcano Piton des Neiges, all located in the National Park Reunion, under the title Pitons, cirques et Ramparts de l' île de La Reunion ( dt: peak, valley and steep slopes of the island of Réunion), a UNESCO World heritage Site.

Places

  • Grand Place ( 691 m)
  • Îlet à Malheur ( 859 m)
  • La Nouvelle (1450 m)
  • Marla (1629 m)
  • Roche Plate (1120 m)

Access

All accesses are only relatively steep trails that require slip resistance, possible. The most important additions are:

  • From the west: from Maïdo ( 2152 m) over the Ti Col ( 2029 m) to Roche Plate
  • From the South: Cilaos on the trail grande randonnée GR1 GR2 and over the Col du Taïbit ( 2081 m) by Marla
  • From the east from the Cirque de Salazie via the forest road to the Col des Bœufs (1956 m ) to La Nouvelle (1450 m)
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