#Réunion is a single #island in the #IndianOcean that is an overseas region of #France. It is located approximately 550 km east of #Madagascar and 175 km southwest of #Mauritius. Réunion is an outermost region of the #EuropeanUnion and is part of the #eurozone. Réunion and another French overseas territory, #Mayotte is the only eurozone region located in the Southern Hemisphere. As in the rest of France, the official language of Réunion is #French. In addition, a majority of the region’s population speaks Réunion Creole.
The island has been inhabited since the 17th century, it was visited by sailors, diplomats, and explorers who used it as a stop on the route to #India. It was also popular with #naturalists such as Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent. Difficult to reach before the advent of commercial flight, it took a long time before being featured on the #tourist circuit. #Travel between the islands was also difficult on the island itself, before the Réunion #railway was built in 1882, it took two days to cross the island from Saint-Denis to Saint-Pierre.
On March 19, 1793, during the French Revolution, the island’s name was changed to “Réunion Island” in homage to the meeting of the Federates of Marseille and the National Guards of Paris, during the march on the Tuileries Palace on August 10, 1792, and to erase the name of the #Bourbon dynasty. During the Napoleonic Wars, the island was invaded by British forces, and its governor, General Sainte-Suzanne, was forced to capitulate on July 9, 1810. The island then came under British rule and was returned to the French under the Treaty of #Paris of 1814. From 1690, most of the non-Europeans on the island were enslaved.
The colony abolished slavery on 20 December 1848 though, many of the foreign workers came here as indentured workers mostly #tamil#Hindu people from #India. The opening of the #SuezCanal in 1869 reduced the importance of the island as a stopover on the East Indies trade route. The island is 63 km long; 45 km wide and is a geological #hotspot owing to the existence of several active # volcanoes. The island is a #biodiversity#hotspot and is famed for its wide variety of #flora and #fauna. Known for its pristine sandy #beaches, #coralreefs the island is a huge #tourism destination since the 1990s when tourism has grown on the island.
The island has become notorious for #sharkattacks as the waters around the island are full of a variety of #sharks. Reunion’s deeper waters are home to #dolphins, #killerwhales, #humpback #whales. Mostly covered with the dense forest since 2010, Réunion is home to a #UNESCO #WorldHeritage Site that covers about 40% of the island’s area. The island is part of the #Mascarene forests terrestrial ecoregion. Not as well-known as nearby Mauritius the island is known for its #cuisine, music, mix culture with #tourism being the main contributor to the #economy besides #agriculture.
There are numerous hotels, resorts on the island that offer luxurious, mid-range, and budget accommodation. #Restaurants are known for serving fresh #seafood, although Indian #Chinese, #French cuisine is also available at reasonable prices. Most of the towns on the island have a church, temple, and mosque close to each other. The island has many natural tourist attractions, including the Piton des Neiges, the highest point on the island), lava cliffs, and deep canyons.
The islands are full of magnificent #waterfalls. Another tourist attraction is the active shield volcano Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The collapsed calderas of Cirque de Cilaos, Cirque de Mafate, and Cirque de Salazie also draw tourists. The Le Maïdo viewpoint is located at an altitude of 2,205 meters and has excellent views of the coast. Adrenaline junkies can opt for #surfing, #kayaking, #parasailing #jetskiing, #scubadiving # snorkeling off the island’s west coast.
The island’s numerous rocky areas, hills, and forests are excellent #horseriding, #biking, #hiking #trekking options. Réunion’s capital Saint-Denis and the #lagoons of St-Gilles-Les Bains are also major tourist attractions. The Domaine du Grand Hazier is an 18th-century home of a sugar planter and an official French historical monument, has a large garden with fruit trees and tropical flowers. Réunion is known for its stunning #sunset #sunrise and #festivals that take place all year round throughout the island. Open to tourists throughout the year, the island is a must-visit for an extended weekend #tour with September and October being the best time to visit.
