Dziani Dzaha

Petite-Terre's volcanic origins are in plain view at Dziani Dzaha: a crater lake of startling green, coloured by dense cyanobacteria, in a round bowl whose rim takes about an hour to walk, with ylang and scrub on the slopes. From the rim the green lake inside the ring contrasts with the blue lagoon outside it and the white line of the reef. Local legend surrounds the lake and swimming in it is traditionally avoided; the visit is the walk around the rim and its viewpoints.

The landscape

• The green lake - water coloured by cyanobacteria in its bowl.
• The rim loop - the hour's walk around the crater ring.
• The double-blue contrast - lagoon and reef beyond the crater lip.
• The ylang slopes - perfume scrub on the volcanic ring.

When to go

May to October, the dry austral winter, keeps the rim path firm and the light clean; early morning beats the heat on the shadeless ring and gilds both blues.

Things to know

The loop is short, hot and shadeless - water and hats even for the hour; the lake itself is for looking at, not swimming in, by local custom. Petite-Terre logistics are easy (it is the airport island); combine with the Badamiers spit and vasiere birdlife for the half day.

Nearby

The Badamiers mudflats, Dzaoudzi's rock and the barge to Grande-Terre.

Key facts