Reunion is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of southern Africa. Little known outside France, Reunion offers spectacular mountain scenery, lush with tropical flowers, trees and fruit, and an active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise. A special feature on Réunion is the cirques – large volcanic valleys surrounded by mountains, creating a natural amphitheatre of about 10km (6 miles) in diameter. Salazie is one of the most spectacular with magnificent waterfalls. The landscapes of the coasts is varied, from white sand to black rocks cliffs. Beaches are generally shallow coral, running out to the reef.