Geography - A green jewel in the blue ocean, Reunion

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Because of the island's sheer relief, all human activities are concentrated on the coast. Today it is where the main towns can be found: Saint-Denis, the county town, Saint-Paul, the early "capital", Saint-Pierre, the Southerner. The beauty of Creole architecture is protected there from the attacks of modern times so as to keep alive the soul of the cities that were built by tough pioneers.

In Saint-Gilles, Saint-Leu, Etang-Salé, a holiday air blows all year round by the beaches. In the high-up plains and cirques, the atmosphere is more country-like with its pretty Creole houses, fields hanging onto the mountain slopes and pastures dotted with herds and flocks.

The sugar cane forms round the island a green belt only interrupted in the south-east by the imposing volcano massif. Further up, the tortured relief has conceded only very little room to agriculture. The volcanic mountain reigns there like a mistress, carpeted with vegetation and water falls. The original native forest is still alive in Bebour-Bélouve, in the Plaine des Palmistes Region and in Mare-Longue near Saint-Philippe. In the altitude forests grows the worldwide unique Tamarind tree that is very much loved by cabinetmakers. One of Reunion's many charms lies in the variety of her scenery that ranges from purely vegetal to utmost mineral beauty, either bathed in the tropical heat or livened up by the pure mountain air.

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General Tips about Reunion

» Required travel documents for Reunion
» Electric power
» Area code to Reunion
» Activities and leisure: In water
» Activities and leisure: In the airs
» Activities and leisure: On ground
» Cuisine
» Air connections from Europe
» Local craft
» Taxis
» Car rentals
» Connections airport / city center
» The mountain house
» Local customs services
» Weather forecast
» Foreign consulates
» Port Reunion's passenger terminal
» Goods allowances for travellers
» Saint-Pierre Pierrefonds Airport
» Roland Garros Airport
» Special requirements - Wild flora and fauna
» Special requirements - Cats and Dogs
» Special requirements - Health
» Entry requirements
» Population - A metisse culture
» Population - A population rainbow
» Flora and Fauna
» Climate
» Saint-Leu
» Saint-Gilles
» Saint-Paul
» Geography - West
» Sainte-Suzanne
» Saint-André
» Bras-Panon
» Saint-Benoît
» Sainte-Rose
» Geography - East
» Saint-Philippe
» Saint-Joseph
» Saint-Pierre
» Saint-Louis
» L'Etang-Salé
» Geography - South
» Saint-Denis
» Geography - North
» Geography - A green jewel in the blue ocean
» Geography - A volcano that loomed up from the ocean
» History
» Piton des Neiges
» Piton de la Fournaise
» History
» Culture and language
» Climate and weather
» Geography

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