Mount Karthala or Karthola (Arabic: القرطالة Al Qirṭālah) is an active volcano and the highest point of the Comoros at 2,361 m (7,746 ft) above sea level.

The eruption, which carried a risk of lava flows and deadly volcanic gas, caused the evacuation of 30,000 residents.

The crater lake, which formed after Karthala's last eruption in 1991 and once dominated the caldera, is now gone completely.

In its place were rough, dark grey rocks, possibly cooling lava or rubble from the collapsed crater.

Higher up the vegetation consists of stunted trees and heathland where the giant heather Erica comorensis grows.