La Possession
| La Possession | ||
|---|---|---|
An aerial view over La Possession and Le Port
|
||
|
||
 |
||
| 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) |
|
|
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
||
.svg)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
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.
Historically the territory of the commune of La Possession belonged to the commune of Saint-Paul until 1895.
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.
There are three collèges and one lycée in the commune:
Coastline
Coastline
Steam locomotive at the railroad station
church
Mafate caldera
Lazaretto of Grande Chaloupe
Hiking in Mafate
...
Wikipedia