Country Guide

This small island is situated in latitude 21°S in the Indian Ocean. It lies 190 km/120 mi west-southwest of Mauritius and has a very similar sequence of weather around the year (see the table for Mauritius).

The island consists of a high volcanic mountain rising to 3,000 m/10,000 ft, and rainfall is very heavy on the south and southeast slopes exposed to the trade winds. Like Mauritius, it is occasionally affected by tropical cyclones between December and April.

Formerly a French colony, Réunion is now an overseas department of France.