Reunion.

OFFICIAL NAME: Department of Reunion
CAPITAL: Saint-Denis
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Overseas Department of France
AREA: 2,512 Sq Km (970 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION: 691,900



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LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: Reunion is an island located in the Indian Ocean 690 km (429 mi) east of Madagascar. The island contains and active volcano as well as several extinct ones that rise to an elevation of 3,071 metres (10,075 feet). Most of the terrain is mountainous and rugged with fertile coastal lowlands while 885 sq km (342 sq mi) of the island is covered in forest. Major Cities (pop. est); Saint-Denis 100,900, Le Port 29,200, Le Tampon 27,300, Saint Andre 25,200, Saint Pierre 23,900 (1990). Land Use; forested 35%, pastures 5%, agricultural-cultivated 19%, other 41% (1993).



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CLIMATE: Reunion has a tropical maritime climate with May to November dry and cool, and November to April hot and wet. The island is also subject to occasional cyclones.



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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are mixed descendants of early French settlers and immigrant plantation workers. Other minorities groups include Indians, Chinese and descendants of the early east African slaves.



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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians.



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LANGUAGES: The official language is French, although a Creole is widely used.



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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1990: Prior to 1946, Reunion was a French colony, until it status was changed to an overseas department of France. From 1959 the local communist party has pushed for autonomy from France and a change to it's official status. In 1978 the Anti-Colonialist Front for the Self-Determination of Reunion (FRACPAR) was established. In Feb. 1983 a regional council was popularly elected for the first time.



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CURRENCY: The official currency is the French Franc (F) divided into 100 Centimes.



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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $1,848,000,000 (1990). Public Debt; USD $61,000,000 (1990). Imports; F 13,062,000,000 (1994). Exports; F 953,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $129,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; F -12,109,000,0000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 234,576 or 36.9% of total population (1993). Unemployed 31% (1995).



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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are France and other EU countries.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Maize, Potatoes, Seafood, Sugar Cane, Timber, Tobacco, Vanilla.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Food Processing, Rum Distilling, Tourism.

MAIN EXPORTS: Lobster, Rum, Sugar, Vanilla Essence.