map of reunion island and reunion map and information page

Island Details

This wildly beautiful and rugged volcanic island (with a very active volcano), was uninhabited when discovered by the Portuguese in the early 16th century.

In 1643 it was claimed by the French. They named it Bourbon and established their first colony here in 1662. In the years that followed, slaves from Africa were imported to work the sugar plantations.

The island was renamed Reunion in 1793, and it remained a French colony, except for a brief British occupation from 1810 to 1815.

Over time, French immigration, supplemented by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians, gave the island its ethnic mix.

The island's economy is dominated by the sugarcane industry, and its main exports include sugar, seafood, rum, and vanilla. Tourism, especially from Europe, is a significant economic factor.

The Reunion pages are being revised, but you can find additional information here.

Facts and Figures

Official Name Reunion, (an overseas department of France)

Population 766,000

Capital City Saint-Denis (146,000)

Currency Euro

Currency Converter here

Electricity 220V - 50Hz

Flag here

Measuring System Metric

Latitude/Longitude 21° 06'S, 55° 36'E

Languages French (official), Creole

National Day 14 July; Bastille Day

Religions Catholic, Hindu, Muslim

Land

Land Area 2,510 sq km (969 sq miles)

Landforms Reunion is quite mountainous, and volcanic in origin.

Highest Point Piton des Neiges, 10,069 ft. (3,069 m)

Lowest Point Indian Ocean, 0 ft. (0 m)

Land Divisions 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons.

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We make no copyright claim on any statistical data on this page, nor on any non-original graphics, and/or pictures not produced by us. Certain statistical data is gathered from the CIA World Factbook, as well as numerous public domain reference materials.

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Maps

LARGE (color) map here

Reunion Outline Map here

Reunion Map at UT here

Africa Continent (printable) here

Africa Continent here

Africa Landforms Map here

African Outline Map here

Suggested Links

Reunion (Complete) information on the (GDP) overall economy, imports and exports, resources, government, population, military, transportation and more here

Reunion Photos here!

PASSPORTS - TRAVEL VISAS

NOTE: Before making your travel plans to any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate important details regarding all passport and visa requirements. The experienced people at Travel Visa Pro can answer all of your questions!

Climate Reunion has a tropical climate, one cooled by southeasterly trade winds. Those winds help supply copious rainfall, and also drive an occasional cyclone into the area. The rainy season runs November through March.

Daily highs in the mid 80s are commonplace, and overall, mean temperatures average in the high 70s; with slightly cooler conditions in the higher elevations.