Réunion

Did you know?

• 🏝A stunning overseas department and region of France located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. This volcanic island seamlessly blends European Union infrastructure with vibrant Creole culture and dramatic tropical landscapes.
• 🏳️The official flag of Réunion is the French Tricolor. However, the island widely uses a highly popular unofficial regional flag designed in 2003, known locally as 'Lö Mahaveli'. The red triangle represents Piton de la Fournaise, the island's famous active volcano, while also symbolizing the courage of the ancestors and escaped slaves who sought freedom in the mountains. Five golden rays radiating from the volcanic peak represent the sun and the five distinct ethnic groups that migrated to the island over centuries, forming Réunion's harmonious multicultural society. The blue field symbolizes the vast Indian Ocean surrounding the island, as well as the clear sky, peace and future prospects.
• 🌋One of the most active volcanoes on Earth — the island's shield volcano, Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 meters), erupts on average every nine months. Because its eruptions are effusive (producing slow-flowing basaltic lava rather than explosive ash), they are relatively safe and draw thousands of spectators to watch the glowing night-time lava shows.
• 💶The very first place to use the Euro — as an integral part of France, Réunion's official currency is the Euro. Due to its timezone being hours ahead of mainland Europe, the islanders became the first people in the world to legally spend physical Euro coins and banknotes at midnight on January 1, 2002.
• ⛰️The isolated mountain cirques — the island's interior is dominated by three massive collapsed volcanic calderas (known as cirques): Salazie, Cilaos and Mafate. The Cirque of Mafate is completely inaccessible by car; it can only be reached by hiking rugged mountain trails or via helicopter, with mail, supplies and medical services delivered entirely by air.