French tropical island of the Mascarenes group, in the Indian Ocean, 650 km/400 mi east of Madagascar and 180 km/110 mi southwest of Mauritius; area 2,512 sq km/970 sq mi; population (1999 est) 706,300. The capital is St Denis. The island is volcanic, mountainous, and forested. Produce includes sugar cane (the leading crop), maize, vanilla, tobacco, perfume essence, and rum.
The island was explored by the Portuguese (the first European visitors) in 1513. Annexed by Louis XIII of France in 1642, it became an overseas
département of France in 1946, and an overseas region in 1972.
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