La Réunion: French Island in the Indian Ocean

Location and Status

La Réunion is a French overseas department and region in the Indian Ocean.

Geographic Context

• East of Madagascar (~700 km / 435 mi).
• Southwest of Mauritius (~175 km / 109 mi).
• Northeast of Rodrigues (Mauritius dependency).
• ~9,000 km from Paris—but legally integral part of France (EU, Eurozone).

Key Facts

• Volcanic origin: Piton de la Fournaise (active), Piton des Neiges (3,071 m, extinct).
• Population: ~870,000 (2023).
• Capital: Saint-Denis.
• Economy: Sugar, rum, vanilla, tourism, EU funds.
• Timezone: UTC+4 (no DST).

Tropical, dramatic, French—Europe in the Indian Ocean.