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| Région Réunion | |
|---|---|
| Name | Région Réunion |
| Native name | Réunion |
| Settlement type | Region of France |
| Coordinates | 21°07′S 55°37′E |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | France |
| Subdivision type1 | Overseas region |
| Subdivision name1 | French Republic |
| Established title | Department created |
| Established date | 1946 |
| Seat type | Prefecture |
| Seat | Saint-Denis |
| Area total km2 | 2512 |
| Population total | 859959 |
| Population as of | 2017 census |
| Population density km2 | auto |
| Timezone | UTC+04:00 |
Région Réunion is an overseas region and department of France located in the western Indian Ocean east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius. The island is part of the Mascarene Islands along with Mauritius and Rodrigues, and features active volcanism at Piton de la Fournaise, volcanic calderas such as Piton des Neiges and mountainous terrain that shapes settlement around Saint-Paul, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Denis and Saint-Benoît.
Réunion lies in the Mascarene Islands chain within the southwestern Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and east of Mozambique Channel. The island covers about 2,512 km2 and is dominated by the Piton des Neiges massif, the Piton de la Fournaise shield volcano, and the cirques of Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie. Coastal plains around Saint-Pierre and Le Port contrast with interior highlands such as Plaine des Cafres and Plaine des Palmistes. The reef systems and marine habitats near Île de la Possession and Île Amsterdam are part of regional biodiversity, which includes endemic species protected within Réunion National Park and listed under UNESCO inscriptions. The regional climate ranges from tropical monsoon at Saint-Denis to temperate conditions at higher elevations like Col des Bœufs.
Settlement history includes visits by Arab traders, Portuguese Empire navigators such as Pedro de Mascarenhas, and more sustained colonization by France beginning in the 17th century under the French East India Company. The island was known to sailors as Île Bourbon during the Bourbon monarchy era and later renamed during the French Revolution. Plantation economies tied to sugarcane cultivation employed enslaved peoples from East Africa and Madagascar and later indentured laborers from India and China, linked to broader histories like the Transatlantic slave trade and Indian indenture system. Abolitionist movements, interactions with figures like Victor Schœlcher and the legal framework of the French Second Republic influenced emancipation. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Réunion integrated into metropolitan structures, becoming a French department after World War II in 1946 under policies shaped by De Gaulle and the Fourth Republic. Later political developments involved local figures and institutions interacting with European Union policies and French national law.
As an overseas region and department, the territory operates under the legal framework of France with representation in the National Assembly and the Senate. Local administration is managed by the Departmental Council of Réunion and the Regional Council of Réunion with competencies analogous to those in metropolitan departments, interfacing with ministries based in Paris such as the Ministry of Overseas France (Ministère des Outre-mer). The Prefect of Réunion represents the French Republic on the island and oversees state services, public security coordinated with the Police nationale and the Gendarmerie nationale, and crisis responses in coordination with agencies like Météo-France for cyclones. Judicial matters fall under the jurisdiction of courts linked to the Court of Appeal of Saint-Denis and the Conseil d'État for administrative recourse.
The economy historically centered on sugarcane plantations and remains linked to agriculture, tourism in areas such as Salazie and Cilaos, and public sector employment funded by transfers from France and the European Union. Key ports like Le Port and Saint-Pierre handle maritime trade including containers and bulk sugar exports, connecting with shipping lines operating between Port Louis in Mauritius and Durban in South Africa. The island uses the Euro and benefits from structural funds, while sectors like aquaculture and renewable energy projects around geothermal and wind power are under development. Economic challenges include dependency on imports from Metropolitan France, high unemployment comparable to other outermost regions, and initiatives to promote information technology clusters and agro-industry modernization in cooperation with institutions such as Chamber of Commerce.
Population centers include Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul, and Saint-André. Demographic composition reflects descendants of peoples from France, East Africa, Madagascar, India, China, and Comoros, with cultural continuity linked to migration waves recorded in censuses by INSEE. Languages spoken include French as administrative language and varieties of Réunion Creole; religious affiliations feature Catholicism, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism traditions. Social policies and programs are administered through agencies like CAF and healthcare provision via AP-HP network partnerships for specialist referrals.
Cultural life blends influences from France, India, Africa, China, and Madagascar visible in festivals such as Dipavali celebrations, Carnival events in Saint-Denis, and culinary traditions featuring cari, rougail, and spices tied to the Spice Route. Musical genres include séga, maloya, and contemporary fusions played at venues and festivals promoted by bodies like the Région Réunion cultural departments and local conservatories affiliated with the Conservatoire. Literature and media involve authors and outlets connected to the francophone world, with participation in networks like the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and cultural exchanges with film festivals and museums such as the Museum of Natural History of La Réunion.
Major infrastructure includes Roland Garros Airport serving international flights to Paris-Orly, Saint-Denis connections, and regional routes to Mauritius via air links. Road networks link coastal communes and mountain passes like Col de Bellevue; maritime connections use ports such as Le Port and short-sea services to Mauritius and Mayotte. Public transit in urban areas includes bus services managed by regional operators, freight handled by container terminals, and communications infrastructure connecting to submarine cables linking to Afrique and Asia nodes. Disaster resilience systems coordinate with Météo-France cyclone warnings and emergency services modeled on French national standards.
Category:Overseas regions of France Category:Islands of the Indian Ocean