Where is Reunion Island located?

Reunion Island is located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar and sits at a latitude/longitude of 21° 06' S, 55° 36' E, just above the Tropic of Cancer. The island is quite mountainous and has an active volcano.

The island was called Bourbon when French colonists arrived in the 1640s, bringing with them slaves from Africa and Madagascar to work the coffee plantations, as reported by BBC News. Reunion Island's economy is driven by the export of sugarcane, seafood, rum and vanilla. Tourism is also important, and the wild beauty of the spectacular landscape created by volcanic activity — gorges and natural amphitheaters nestled in mountain ranges — attracts international visitors.