Location Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates 21 06 S, 55 36 E

Map references World

Area
total: 2,510 sq km
land: 2,500 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 201 km

Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Terrain mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m

Natural resources fish, arable land

Land use
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 60 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano

Environment - current issues NA

Environment - international agreements
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

NOTE: The information regarding Reunion on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Reunion Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Reunion Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.