|
Salazie |
|
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Overseas region and department | Réunion |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Benoît |
| Canton | Salazie |
| Intercommunality | Réunion Est |
| Mayor | Stéphane Fouassin (2001–2007) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 230–3,071 m (750–10,075 ft) (avg. 446 m/1,463 ft) |
| Land area1 | 103.82 km2 (40.09 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 7,252 (2007) |
| - Density | 70 /km2 (180 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 97421/ 97433 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Salazie is a volcanic caldera and commune (administrative division) in the department and region of Réunion.
The first settlement of the area took place in 1829 after a cyclone had devastated the nearby coast, and the municipality of Salazie was formed in 1889. The name of the commune is potentially derived from the Malagasy word salazy, meaning 'good encampment'.[1]
Contents |
Salazie lies in the middle of island, north-east of Piton des Neiges (the highest point on the island), in the Cirque de Salazie (actually a volcanic caldera). The commune is totally landlocked, and borders the communes of Bras-Panon, Cilaos, La Possession, Saint-André, Saint-Benoît, Saint-Denis, Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Suzanne.