La Possession

For the film, see La Possession (film).
La Possession

An aerial view over La Possession and Le Port

Coat of arms
Coordinates: 20°55′35″S 55°20′09″E / 20.9264°S 55.3358°E / -20.9264; 55.3358Coordinates: 20°55′35″S 55°20′09″E / 20.9264°S 55.3358°E / -20.9264; 55.3358
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)

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.

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.

Demography

Historical population of La Possession
(Source: INSEE[1])
Year1967197419811990199920062009
Population7 62610 11211 00215 61421 90426 24230 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]

Education

There are three collèges and one lycée in the commune:

Sister cities

See also

References

  1. ↑ La Possession on the site of Insee
  2. ↑ Tourism Office

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to La Possession.
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