Réunion, << ree YOON yuhn or ray oon YAWN, >> is an island in the Indian Ocean, about 400 miles (640 kilometers) east of Madagascar. Of volcanic origin, it covers 969 square miles (2,510 square kilometers). The population of 908,000 consists largely of French Creoles, with some Indians and Chinese. Saint-Denis (pop. 147,920) is the capital. The island’s main product is sugar. Farmers also grow tropical fruits and vanilla, and flowers for perfume. The French took possession of the island in 1642 and named it Bourbon. In 1848, the name was changed to Réunion. Since 1946, it has been an overseas department of France. In 1974, it also became a region of France. French regions are administrative divisions that roughly resemble states in the United States, and each region has one or more departments. Local affairs in Réunion are handled by two elected bodies, a general council and a regional council.
