Réunion Island QRV in September/October 2024
The TO2DX DXpedition from Réunion by OM2DX is scheduled to run until October 7 from this overseas department and region of France in the Indian Ocean, 422 miles east of Madagascar. The HF operation from the 970-square-mile island (slightly smaller than Rhode Island) is scheduled to be active on CW, FT8, and RTTY. TO2DX, operating from the island’s far west side in the commune of St.-Paul, was QRV for the just-completed CQ WW DX RTTY Contest.
The volcanic island of Réunion (part of the Mascarene Islands) is the 219th Most-Wanted DXCC Entity per Clublog as of September. Originally named Bourbon, Réunion has a population of around 885,000 and is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. There are more than 230 plants only found on the island, as well as endemic birds such as the Réunion cuckooshrike, which, if you’re lucky, can be observed in two mountain forests in the northern part of Réunion. The island’s marine biodiversity is even more impressive. Its waters feature 1,000-plus species of fish and 500 crustaceans. You’ll also find a variety of shark species, whales, and sea turtles.
QSL Cards
The active hams at DX Engineering have had great success contacting Réunion over the years (a good reason to contact them for help with your gear if you’d like to do the same). Here are a few of the QSL cards from their collections.
Scotty, KG9Z, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, earned this card from FR7ZD back in April 1984.
Wayne, K8FF, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, provided us with this card from the TO3R November 2008 Réunion DXpedition.
Mark, W8BBQ, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, produced three Réunion QSL cards from his collection: FR5DZ (December 2010, 20M SSB), FR5FC (October 2010, 20M SSB), and FR/DL1YAF (October 2012, 17M SSB).
Tom, KB8UUZ, DX Engineering technical writer, reached FR/DJ7RJ in October 2013. This spectacular card displays the shield volcano known as Piton de la Fournaise—one of the world’s most active volcanos and a major tourist attraction. Located on Réunion’s eastern side, Piton de la Fournaise, known to islanders simply as “le volcan” (The Volcano), last erupted from July to August 2023, per The Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism website.
“More than 150 eruptions, a majority of which have consisted of basaltic lava flows, were recorded since the 17th century,” the website noted. The volcano lies within Réunion National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which covers 40% of the island. The dormant volcano Piton des Neiges marks the island’s highest point at 10,070 feet above sea level.
Geography Question of the Day
While Réunion has a single World Heritage Site (France has 53 total), can you name the top three countries based on number of these sites? Read much more about Réunion’s “pitons, cirques, and remparts” at the World Heritage Convention website.
Scott, N3RA, DX Engineering sales manager, made contact with FR5CB on FT8 in November 2019.
I’ll take “World Heritage Sites” for $1,000, Ken.
Can you name the top three countries based on number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites? As of July 2024, here’s the answer:
- Italy, 60
- China, 59
- Germany, 54
The United States has 26 such sites, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Independence Hall, and Redwood National and State Parks. The only World Heritage Site in Ohio (home of DX Engineering) is the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, which was named the 25th U.S. World Heritage Site in 2023.
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Editor’s Note: Every month, DX Engineering features QSL cards from our team members’ personal collections. To highlight upcoming DXpeditions, we’ll be displaying a few of our favorite cards along with details about what it took to make these contacts. We’re excited to share some of the special cards pulled from the thousands we’ve received over the years. We look forward to seeing your cards as well!
