Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
World
Area:
total:
2,512 km²
land:
2,502 km²
water:
10 km²
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
207 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nautical miles (370 km)
territorial sea:
12 nautical miles (22 km)
Climate:
tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources:
fish, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
2%
permanent pastures:
5%
forests and woodland:
35%
other:
41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land:
60 km² (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise (2,631 m) on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:
NA
- See also: Réunion
