Sea turtles and dolphins also inhabit the coastal waters. ; Courses or boosters usually advised: none. Much of the debris is small enough to be considered sand. The weather is cool and dry from May to November, but hot and rainy from November to April. Tamils are the largest group among the Indian community. That program was led by influential Gaullist politician Michel Debré, who was an MP for Réunion at the time. Réunion is an outermost region of the European Union and, as an overseas department of France, part of the eurozone.[3]. At least 19 species formerly endemic to Réunion have become extinct following human colonisation. [18] It is a white sand beach lined with casuarina trees under which the locals often organise picnics. Explore Reunion Island from the skies: paragliding. Things to Do in Reunion Island, Africa: See Tripadvisor's 55,776 traveler reviews and photos of Reunion Island tourist attractions. The uninhabited island might have been first sighted by the expedition led by Dom Pedro Mascarenhas, who gave his name to the island group around Réunion, the Mascarenes. However, specific package prices and availability for your selected dates from your departure city change rapidly as they are subject to availability from our partners and cannot be guaranteed. These are the best fares found by travelers who searched Tripadvisor in the past recent weeks. Most large towns have a Hindu temple and a mosque.[35]. Hermitage Beach is the most extensive and best-preserved lagoon in Réunion Island and a popular snorkelling location. The Status and Location of the Military Installations of the Member States of the European Union and Their Potential Role for the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). All of the ethnic groups comprising the island are immigrant populations that have come to Réunion from Europe, Asia and Africa over the centuries. This is largely a society respectful of each other's diverse cultures and the island has suffered no political or social unrest in almost two centuries. Between 2010 and 2017, 23 shark attacks occurred in the waters of Réunion, of which nine were fatal. Groups that are not Creole include people recently arrived from Metropolitan France (known as zoreilles) and those from Mayotte and the Comoros as well as immigrants from Madagascar and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. Religious Intelligence estimates Christians to be 86.9% of the population, followed by Hindus (6.7%) and Muslims (3.2%). Reunion, island of the Mascarene Islands and a French overseas department and overseas region in the western Indian Ocean. How many people of each ethnicity live in Réunion is not known exactly, since the French census does not ask questions about ethnic origin,[28] which applies in Réunion because it is a part of the 1958 constitution, and also because of the extent of racial mixing on the island. Lava flow emitted in 2005 by the Piton de la Fournaise, The climate in Réunion is tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation. Travel here, explore the mountains, get to know the story of the Island. [11][12] A few cases also appeared in mainland France, carried by people travelling by airline. The last is accessible only on foot or by helicopter. It has been home to notable pro surfers including Jeremy Flores, Johanne Defay and Justine Mauvin. Cantonese, Arabic, Tamil is also taught as an optional language in some schools.[34]. Popular destinations in Reunion Island Prices are based on round trip travel and hotel stay per traveler. With an active volcano on its south coast, 17 miles of warm, welcoming beaches in the west, and lots of mountains and forests in between, Reunion Island offers vacation opportunities ranging from relaxing to truly insane. In 1946, it gained the status as the overseas department of France. Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Réunion&oldid=991157583, French-speaking countries and territories, States and territories established in 1946, 1946 establishments in the French colonial empire, Articles with French-language sources (fr), CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox settlement with possible motto list, Articles containing potentially dated statements from January 2020, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2015, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, France geography articles needing translation from French Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Petroleum and coal products manufacturing, Non-food and non-petroleum/coal manufacturing, Professional, scientific and technical services, Other (entertainment, repair, personal and laundry services), Education, health care, elderly care, child day-care, This page was last edited on 28 November 2020, at 16:08. There are no indigenous people on the island, as it was originally deserted. The slopes of both volcanoes are heavily forested. The communes voluntarily grouped themselves into five intercommunalities for cooperating in some domains, apart from the four arrondissements to which they belong for purposes of applying national laws and executive regulation. Jutting out of the ocean like a basaltic shield cloaked in green, Réunion is a scenically magical island that enjoys a truly astonishing diversity of landscapes. It has been a home for the Africans, Madagascar and French. What you'll find on this site are tips, all that you must see, the things to try before you leave. Agathe appeared in A Shot at Glory, whilst Robert was in Goal!. Réunionese culture is a blend (métissage) of European, African, Indian, Chinese and insular traditions. While the Piton de la Fournaise is one of Earth's most active volcanoes, the Piton des Neiges is dormant. They are often equipped with barbecues, amenities, and parking spaces. [citation needed]. Professional footballers include Dimitri Payet, Ludovic Ajorque, Florent Sinama Pongolle and Guillaume Hoarau.