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The Plaine des Cafres is a
(‘The most remarkable among the plains – one which nobody has written about – is one named the ''Plaine des Cafres'', for the group of Cafres (slaves of the islanders) who escaped there in hiding, after leaving their masters. ..This plain was unknown before the Cafres escaped o dwell there’)
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...
on Réunion Island, one of the French volcanic islands in the Mascarene Archipelago in the southwestern Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by t ...
. It is part of the commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
of Le Tampon
Le Tampon () is the fourth-largest commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the south-central part of the island of Réunion, adjacent to Saint-Pierre.
In the early twentieth century, the town was the base for th ...
.
It is named after the Cafres Cafres or Kafs, are people born in Réunion of African origins. This includes people of Malagasy ancestry. Many also have admixture from other ethnic groups.
Use of the Term
Like the Sri Lanka Kaffirs, the name ''Cafres'' is derived from the Ar ...
, black slaves who hid in the area during and before the 18th century. « Entre ces plaines ..la plus remarquable, et dont personne n’a rien écrit, est celle qu’on a nommée la plaine des Cafres, à cause qu’une troupe de Cafres, esclaves des habitants de l’île, s’y étaient allés cacher, après avoir quitté leurs maîtres. ..Cette plaine était inconnue avant la fuite des Cafres » (‘The most remarkable among the plains – one which nobody has written about – is one named the ''Plaine des Cafres'', for the group of Cafres (slaves of the islanders) who escaped there in hiding, after leaving their masters. ..This plain was unknown before the Cafres escaped o dwell there’)
Geography
Located between the two mountain ranges ofPiton des Neiges
The Piton des Neiges (Snow Peak) is a massive 3,069 m (10,069 ft) shield volcano on Réunion, one of the French volcanic islands in the Mascarene Archipelago in the southwestern Indian Ocean. It is located about east of Madagascar ...
and Piton de la Fournaise
Piton de la Fournaise (; en, "Peak of the Furnace") is a shield volcano on the eastern side of Réunion island (a French overseas department and region) in the Indian Ocean. It is currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world, alo ...
, the Plaine des Cafres is separated from the commune of La Plaine-des-Palmistes
La Plaine-des-Palmistes is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion.
Geography
It lies in the eastern part of the island, on the RN3 road, south west of Saint-Benoît and northeast of the Col de Bellevue. It is known for its ne ...
by the ''col de Bellevue'', a mountain pass culminating at 1630 m. The RF5 road leading to the Piton de la Fournaise
Piton de la Fournaise (; en, "Peak of the Furnace") is a shield volcano on the eastern side of Réunion island (a French overseas department and region) in the Indian Ocean. It is currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world, alo ...
volcano
A volcano is a rupture in the Crust (geology), crust of a Planet#Planetary-mass objects, planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and volcanic gas, gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface.
On Ear ...
starts from the Plaine des Cafres.
Economy
Due to abundant flat lands covered with meadows, bovine farming is well developed (most cattle grown on the island are at the Plaine des Cafres). The many cow pastures give the area an Alpine character.Infrastructures
Since 1979, the Plaine des Cafres hosts thePiton de la Fournaise Volcano Observatory
The Piton de la Fournaise Volcano Observatory is a volcano observatory in the village of Bourg-Murat on the island of Réunion that monitors the Piton de la Fournaise shield volcano in the Indian Ocean. It is part of the Institut de Physique du Gl ...
,
and there is one collège
In France, secondary education is in two stages:
* ''Collèges'' () cater for the first four years of secondary education from the ages of 11 to 15.
* ''Lycées'' () provide a three-year course of further secondary education for children between ...
.
References
Populated places in Réunion {{Reunion-geo-stub