La Possession

{{Infobox French commune

|name = La Possession

|commune status = Commune

|image = Reunion-LaPossession-LePort.jpg

|caption = An aerial view over La Possession and Le Port

|image coat of arms = Blason ville DomFr La Possession (Réunion).svg

|map = Locator map of La Possession 2018.png

|arrondissement = Saint-Paul

|canton = La Possession

|INSEE = 97408

|postal code = 97419

|mayor = Vanessa Miranville{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=2 December 2020|language=French}}

|term = 2020–2026

|intercommunality = Territoire de la Côte Ouest

|coordinates = {{coord|-20.9264|55.3358|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

|elevation m = 17

|elevation min m = 0

|elevation max m = 2940

|area km2 = 118.35

|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}

|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}

|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}

}}

La Possession ({{IPA|fr|la pɔsesjɔ̃|audio|LL-Q150 (fra)-Noaius Paticus-La Possession.wav}}) is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located in the northwestern part 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 Cirque of Mafate, a caldera of the dormant Piton des Neiges volcano. It is part of the Réunion National Park.

History

The territory of the commune of La Possession belonged to the commune of Saint-Paul until 1895.

In 1675, the first settlements were led by Jean Marquet (a creek was named for him). In 1699, sugar cane concessions were attributed to Texer de Mota, a Portuguese from India.

From 1730-1767, construction of Chemin Crémont created the first paved walkway to the capital Saint-Denis. In 1797, the Rivière des Galets concession was attributed to Dr Rivière.

In 1833, a chapel was constructed, later replaced by a church. 1834: Still belonging to the commune of Saint-Paul, Réunion, the territory of the futur commune becomes special section. From 1849–1854, La route de la Montagne (Mountain road) was built; the first reliable road connection to Saint-Denis.

In 1860, the lazaret of La Grande Chaloupe was constructed, which became the quarantine station of Réunion. In 1882 the railway Saint-Denis - Saint-Pierre and the harbour of Le Port were constructed. In 1886 the first steamers enter the new Pointe des Galets harbour. 1890 saw the creation of the La Possession commune. In 1895, part of the territory at the Pointe des Galets was split off to become the commune of Le Port.

In 1976, the new coastal highway to Saint-Denis was opened along with the closure of the railway Saint-Denis - Le Port.

Demographics

{{Historical populations

| align = none

| cols = 1

| percentages = pagr

| source = SPLAF{{cite web|url=http://splaf.free.fr/domurb.php?depnum=974 |title=Agglomérations et villes de la Réunion |author=SPLAF (Site sur la Population et les Limites Administratives de la France) |access-date=23 February 2021}} and INSEE (1967-2017)[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-97408#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE

| graph-pos = right

| 1961|6783

| 1967|7626

| 1974|10112

| 1982|11002

| 1990|15614

| 1999|21904

| 2007|27175

| 2012|30653

| 2017|33020

}}

Geography

Most of the caldera of Mafate belongs to the commune. Hiking trails connect Dos d'Âne via the river valley of Rivière des Galets to Grand Place and other îlets. Other trails connect 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 indentured servitude in Réunion.

=Climate=

La Possession has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen climate classification Cwb). The average annual temperature in La Possession is {{cvt|18.1|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1376.0|mm}} with February as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in February, at around {{cvt|21.6|C}}, and lowest in July, at around {{cvt|14.7|C}}. The highest temperature ever recorded in La Possession was {{cvt|31.4|C}} on 2 March 2010; the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{cvt|4.5|C}} on 29 July 1986.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = La Possession (Dos d'Ane, altitude 915m, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1966–2014)

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|Jan record high C = 30.2

|Feb record high C = 30.8

|Mar record high C = 31.4

|Apr record high C = 29.5

|May record high C = 28.5

|Jun record high C = 26.9

|Jul record high C = 25.4

|Aug record high C = 25.6

|Sep record high C = 26.5

|Oct record high C = 28.6

|Nov record high C = 30.2

|Dec record high C = 31.1

|Jan record low C = 11.5

|Feb record low C = 12.0

|Mar record low C = 11.0

|Apr record low C = 8.9

|May record low C = 8.0

|Jun record low C = 5.4

|Jul record low C = 4.5

|Aug record low C = 6.0

|Sep record low C = 5.7

|Oct record low C = 6.8

|Nov record low C = 7.2

|Dec record low C = 10.5

|Jan high C = 25.7

|Feb high C = 25.8

|Mar high C = 25.4

|Apr high C = 24.3

|May high C = 22.9

|Jun high C = 21.0

|Jul high C = 19.8

|Aug high C = 20.1

|Sep high C = 20.5

|Oct high C = 21.6

|Nov high C = 23.1

|Dec high C = 24.7

|year high C = 22.9

|Jan mean C = 21.3

|Feb mean C = 21.6

|Mar mean C = 20.9

|Apr mean C = 19.7

|May mean C = 18.1

|Jun mean C = 15.9

|Jul mean C = 14.7

|Aug mean C = 15.0

|Sep mean C = 15.4

|Oct mean C = 16.6

|Nov mean C = 18.1

|Dec mean C = 20.0

|year mean C = 18.1

|Jan low C = 16.9

|Feb low C = 17.3

|Mar low C = 16.5

|Apr low C = 15.0

|May low C = 13.3

|Jun low C = 10.9

|Jul low C = 9.7

|Aug low C = 9.9

|Sep low C = 10.4

|Oct low C = 11.5

|Nov low C = 13.1

|Dec low C = 15.2

|year low C = 13.3

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 343.4

|Feb precipitation mm = 343.5

|Mar precipitation mm = 241.1

|Apr precipitation mm = 80.6

|May precipitation mm = 48.5

|Jun precipitation mm = 28.5

|Jul precipitation mm = 14.4

|Aug precipitation mm = 20.8

|Sep precipitation mm = 22.6

|Oct precipitation mm = 27.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 52.2

|Dec precipitation mm = 153.4

|year precipitation mm = 1376.0

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 14.2

|Feb precipitation days = 13.5

|Mar precipitation days = 11.6

|Apr precipitation days = 8.3

|May precipitation days = 6.2

|Jun precipitation days = 3.5

|Jul precipitation days = 3.4

|Aug precipitation days = 3.6

|Sep precipitation days = 4.1

|Oct precipitation days = 4.7

|Nov precipitation days = 6.6

|Dec precipitation days = 10.2

|year precipitation days = 90.0

|source 1 = Météo-France{{cite web

| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_97408540.pdf

| title=Fiche Climatologique Statistiques 1991-2020 et records

| language = fr

| publisher = Météo-France

| access-date = August 29, 2022}}}}

Education

Three collèges and one lycée support the commune:

Collège Jean Albany, with 1130 students (2005)
Collège Texeira da Motta.
Collège R.Verges, with 740 students (2005)
Lycée Moulin Joli, with 1060 students (2006)

Sister cities

Image:Flag of Mauritius.svg Port Louis (Mauritius)
Image:Flag of France.svg Villeneuve-d'Ascq (Metropolitan-France)
Image:Flag of Madagascar.svg Antanifotsy (Madagascar)
Image:Flag of China.svg Foshan (China)
Image:Flag of the Comoros.svg Barakani (Anjouan - Comoros)

Gallery

File:Vierge.de.la.Mer.Possession05.JPG

File:Littoral-de-la-Possession-Reunion.jpg|Coastline

File:LaPossession-abris.peche.jpg|Coastline

File:Locomotive.Schneider.030T.jpg|Steam locomotive at the railroad station

File:Eglise.de.la.possession05.JPG|church

File:Reunion Mafate Marla.JPG|Mafate caldera

File:Lazaret.Gde.Chaloupe06.jpg|Lazaretto of Grande Chaloupe

File:Réunion WalkingUnderTheTrees.JPG|Hiking in Mafate

References

External links

[http://www.ville-lapossession.fr/ Official website]

Category:Communes of Réunion