Page 78 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Volcano Tourism in Ethiopia and the Danakil Rift Zone 55

Bourg-Murat north-west of the volcano. The sun, heat, cold and rain and not to stray from
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano Observatory, founded marked paths. Many white paint marks over rocks
in 1978 following the Piton-Sainte-Rose flow, is delimit a number of footpaths ascending the lava
one of several operated by the Institut de Physique shield inside the caldera. There was completely
du Globe de Paris. In Bourg-Murat there is an free access during eruptions until 1998, now
interesting volcano museum (La Maison du Volcan). access is limited. Since the eruption of April 2007
It’s a good way for tourists to be introduced to the during which the bottom of the Dolomieu crater
volcano and to find out about the conditions collapsed to a depth greater than 300m, access in
before going up to it. This museum was conceived the Enclosure and to the crater rim has been
by the two famous French vulcanologists (Maurice temporarily prohibited to the public because the
and Katia Krafft), who died in 1991 during the Mt edges of the very destabilized summit craters
Unzen eruption in Japan. Many films of eruptions continued to be detached frequently and suddenly.
are from their personal collection. The museum is Also, this path is closed for safety reasons during
also very useful in understanding how the island seismic events that may precede eruptions, and
was formed, or to learn about the different types of during eruptions. Tourists can, however, take
volcanoes around the world. helicopter flights offered by commercial companies
Access to the volcano is easy, as the mountain’s on the island and fly over the volcano when
frequent volcanic activity is a tourist attraction, so meteorologial conditions are good.
rides and tours are readily available. The whole With a good road via Bellecombe the volcano
area around the central crater is an amazing is now a very popular natural site for tourists who
landscape of rocks, cinder and ash, devoid of want to observe an eruption. In 1972 at the time
vegetation, in deep shades of red-brown and black. of the first eruption which followed the complete
The 13.4km hike to the volcano rim is not too opening of the Road of the Volcano the local
difficult a walk but people must go prepared. Préfect, anxious about the safety of important
Access to the summit is best by the road east to visitors, prohibited access to the Enclosure from
the volcano from Bourg-Murat (1560m), the 9 August 1972. The popular response was sharp
starting point of the RF5 road, also called ‘the and the Préfecture finally authorized access to
volcano road (la route du volcan)’. It is about small groups helped by guides. But meteorological
30km long (20km sealed). Soon after starting, the conditions then were difficult and three people
scenery becomes increasing barren and finally is died of cold, with ten hospitalized. Since then the
crossing the Plaine des Sables, with the remains of State, at the time of each eruption has introduced
more ancient craters. The road ends at the Pas de a device of regulation and organization of access
Bellecombe, on the north-western rim of the to the sites of eruptions, while trying to find the
caldera, where tourists can look out from the edge formula which as much as possible reconciles
of a 300m cliff. Here there is parking for cars, then public safety with the desire to see this impressive
a path and a long stair which allows visitors to go spectacle. In the light of the specific experiments
down the cliff-face to the caldera floor, then cross for each eruption, the device-type has evolved
the lava fields and ascend to the rim of the over the years. Its application, however, never
Dolomieu crater. This walk will take about four to ceases to cause polemical debates relating to safety
five hours there and back. Visitors exploring the vs freedom to circulate. A gate has been put in
caldera should be in good physical condition, with place at the entry of the path to allow prefectoral
hiking shoes and a supply of drinking water and closing of the Enclosure at the time of the
food. eruptions.
People must be prepared to exercise caution During the eruption of 1998 the number of
because the weather can change very quickly, visitors caused congestion for several hours. Access
moving from bright sunlight and heat (with risks was closed to vehicles and a system of paying
of heatstroke) to dense fog with cold and rain. In shuttles was set up temporarily. Following this
dense fog, straying from paths is very risky. Visitors event, a feasibility study was undertaken on the
are advised to take the necessary precautions for desirability of replacing freedom of movement

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