Island Born of Fire

Written by the author of The Forecasting of Volcano Eruptions, this book tells about the color, splendor, nature and life. About the people who are warm, friendly and, of course, very French. Réunion Island, located in the Indian Ocean, is currently believed to have been discovered early in the 16th century by the Portuguese navigator Pedro de Mascarenhas. In the year 1638, Réunion Island was claimed by France as a stopover point for mercantile ships on their way to India. The French East India Company established a small colony on Réunion in the year 1665. Originally called Île de Bourbon, it was named Réunion in 1793 during the French Revolution.