Reunion

Reunion, volcanic island covering 970 sq mi (2,512 sq km) in the West Indian Ocean. Discovered in the early 1500s by the Portuguese, Reunion has been a French possession since 1642 and an overseas department of France since 1946. The islanders, mostly of mixed descent, are nearly all Roman Catholic and speak a Creole patois. Its products include sugar, rum, corn, and vanilla. The capital is Saint-Denis. A 36-member elected council governs the city.