Réunion
Réunion
- Capital
- Saint-Denis
- Population
- 840,974
- Region
- Africa
- Languages
- French
This island is home to one of the world's most active and accessible volcanoes, the Piton de la Fournaise, which erupts frequently and is a major site for scientific study. Because of the local microclimates and steep terrain, the island boasts unique biodiversity including the rare Bourbon black petrel. It is also the birthplace of the world-famous Bourbon vanilla, following a discovery by a young enslaved boy named Edmond Albius who pioneered the manual pollination technique still used today.
Currency
The official currency is the Euro, using the ISO code EUR, due to the island's status as an overseas department of France. Before adopting the Euro in 2002, the island used the CFA Franc and previously issued its own distinct bank notes through the 'Institut d'Émission des Départements d'Outre-Mer'.
Flag symbolism
While the official flag is the French Tricolore, the widely recognized regional flag, known as 'Volcan Rayonnant,' features a red triangle representing the Piton de la Fournaise. Five gold rays emanate from the volcano to symbolize the arrival of various populations who have settled on the island over the centuries. The blue background represents the vast sky and the surrounding ocean, symbolizing a sense of openness and peace.
Emblem history
The coat of arms, created in 1925 by Émile Merwart, features a shield divided into four quarters representing different eras of colonial history. It includes the Roman numeral 'MMM' to signify the height of the island's tallest peak and a depiction of the ship 'Saint-Alexis' which claimed the territory for France. The central escutcheon displays the French tricolor with the initials 'RF' for République Française, surrounded by a floral vine of vanilla to represent the local economy.