Geographical location
Reunion Island is a French department. It is situated
on the western side of the Indian Ocean, in the Mascarene
archipelago, at 100 km west of Mauritius and at 760
km east of Malagasy Republic. Originated from a volcano,
Reunion Island is formed by Salazies Mountain, an extinct
volcano in the west and by Grand Brulé mountain
in the east, where the Piton de la Fournaise –
an active volcano - is situated (2632m).
The Piton des Neiges, 3,069 high, remains the highest
point of the island. The altitude of most part of the
island is above 1000 m. The plains are limited essentially
to the coast.
This French department is known as “the intense
island”. Intense for its striking landscapes.
The island is constituted by 3 huge cirques, ancient
crumbled craters.
The most spectacular, the “Piton des Neiges”
(3069 m) offers a rare panoramic view to hikers with
an avid feeling for adventures.
Intense also for its luxuriant nature! The island is
an immense tropical garden whose scents inspire the
perfumers of around the world. Geraniums, gladiolus,
begonias, dahlias, eyelets and asters grow in the wild
under the ferns trees, palm trees, flamboyant trees
with their luminous red or the fruit trees, beside the
orchids.
Intense finally for its cultural mixture: Europeans,
Africans, Chinese, Muslims, Tamils and Indians stand
side by side harmoniously in a society respectful of
the richness and differences of each culture. |