La Possession
| La Possession | ||
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An aerial view over La Possession and Le Port | ||
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| Coordinates: 20°55′35″S 55°20′09″E / 20.9264°S 55.3358°ECoordinates: 20°55′35″S 55°20′09″E / 20.9264°S 55.3358°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Overseas region and department | Réunion | |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Paul | |
| Canton | La Possession | |
| Intercommunality | Territoire de la Côte Ouest | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2014–2020) | Vanessa Miranville | |
| Area1 | 118.35 km2 (45.70 sq mi) | |
| Population (2011)2 | 30,911 | |
| • Density | 260/km2 (680/sq mi) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 97408 / 97419 | |
| Elevation |
0–2,940 m (0–9,646 ft) (avg. 17 m or 56 ft) | |
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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. | ||
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La Possession is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the northwest side of the island of Réunion, between the capital of Saint-Denis and the commune of Le Port.
To the territory of this commune belongs the major part of the valley of Mafate, a caldera of the extinct Piton des Neiges volcano. It is part of the Réunion National Park.
History
Historically the territory of the commune of La Possession belonged to the commune of Saint-Paul until 1895.
- 1675: First settlements by Jean Marquet (a creek has been named after him).
- 1699: Concessions for planting sugar cane attributed to Texer de Mota, a Portuguese from India
- 1730-1767: Construction of Chemin Crémont first paved walkway to the islands capital Saint-Denis
- 1797: Concession of Rivière des Galets attributed to Dr Rivière.
- 1833: Construction of a chapel, later replaced by a church
- 1834: Still belonging to the commune of Saint-Paul, Réunion the territory of the futur commune becomes special section.
- 1849–1854: Construction of the La route de la Montagne (Mountain road) - first reliable road connection to Saint-Denis.
- 1860: Construction of the lazaret of La Grande Chaloupe that becomes the quarantine station of Réunion.
- 1872: Claims by the population for installation of a new commune
- 1881: A petition is addressed to the regional council.
- 1882: Begin of the construction of the railway Saint-Denis - Saint-Pierre and the harbour of Le Port.
- 1886: First steamers enter the new harbour the Pointe des Galets
- 1890: Creation of the commune La Possession
- 1895: A part of the territory at the Pointe des Galets was split off to become the commune of Le Port..
- 1976: Inauguration of the new coastal highway to Saint-Denis.
- 1976: Closure of the railway Saint-Denis - Le Port
Demography
| Year | 1967 | 1974 | 1981 | 1990 | 1999 | 2006 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7 626 | 10 112 | 11 002 | 15 614 | 21 904 | 26 242 | 30 167 |
| From the year 1962 on: No double counting—residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) are counted only once. | |||||||
Tourism
Most of the caldera of Mafate belongs to the territory of the commune of La Possession. Hiking trails lead to this valley from Dos d'Âne and along the river Rivière des Galets. Another popular hiking trail, chemin Crémont, leads from La Possession to Saint-Denis, via La Grande Chaloupe.
At La Grande Chaloupe the partly restored lazaretto and the former train station can be visited. They have exhibitions about the history of the Réunion railroad, the lazaretto and engagement in Réunion.
Hotels[2]
- LODGE ROCHE TAMARIN***
- LE PILON D’OR
- several Gîtes in the valley of Mafate
Education
There are three collèges and one lycée in the commune:
- Collège Jean Albany, with 1130 students in 2005.
- Collège Texeira da Motta.
- Collège R.Verges, with 740 students in 2005.
- Lycée Moulin Joli, with 1060 students in 2006.
Sister cities
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Port Louis (Mauritius) -
Villeneuve-d'Ascq (Metropolitan-France) -
Antanifotsy (Madagascar) -
Foshan (China) -
Barakani (Anjouan - Comoros)
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Coastline
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Coastline
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Steam locomotive at the railroad station
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church
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Mafate caldera
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Lazaretto of Grande Chaloupe
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Hiking in Mafate
See also
- Communes of the Réunion department
- Mafate valley and caldera
- La Grande Chaloupe
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to La Possession. |