Grand Etang

Grand Étang is the largest natural body of standing water on Réunion, formed when a lava flow dammed a valley, with no outflow, and it sits in a bowl of green walls fed by a short creek from the Cascade Biberon on the Bras d'Annette, which drops down the rock face at the head of the valley. A flat walk of about forty-five minutes from the car park reaches the lake, and a circuit continues around it and up towards the base of the fall.

What you'll find

• The lake - the largest natural standing water on the island.
• The Cascade Biberon - the tall fall on the Bras d'Annette at the valley head.
• The circuit walk - the route around the lake and towards the fall.
• The valley walls - the vegetated cliffs enclosing the basin.

When to go

May to November is the drier season. The waterfall is strongest after rain. The lake level varies greatly and it can shrink considerably in dry spells.

What to expect

The lake dries back substantially in dry years and can look poor. The circuit is muddy and involves river crossings that are dangerous after rain. Swimming is not permitted.

Nearby

Plaine des Palmistes is southwest, and Saint-Benoit is northeast.

Key facts