Saint-Pierre, Réunion

Saint-Pierre
Subprefecture and commune
An aerial view of part of Saint-Pierre and its port
An aerial view of part of Saint-Pierre and its port
Coat of arms of Saint-Pierre
Coat of arms
Motto: 
Fortis fortuna fortior (Latin: 'Courage is stronger than fortune')
Location of Saint-Pierre
Map
Coordinates: 21°20′31″S 55°28′40″E / 21.3419°S 55.4778°E / -21.3419; 55.4778
CountryFrance
Overseas region and departmentRéunion
ArrondissementSaint-Pierre
CantonSaint-Pierre-1, 2 and 3
IntercommunalityVilles solidaires
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Michel Fontaine[1] (LR)
Area
1
95.99 km2 (37.06 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
84,077
 • Density880/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+04:00
INSEE/Postal code
97416 /97410
Elevation0–1,642 m (0–5,387 ft)
(avg. 19 m or 62 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Pierre (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ pjɛʁ]; Reunionese Creole: Sin-Pyè) is the third-largest commune in the French overseas department and region of Réunion. Located on the southwest side of the island, it is the capital of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. It developed from a port built from 1854 to 1882, which was used for the trade between Asia and Europe. Today, it features 400 sites for fishing and pleasure boats, while most of the commercial traffic moved north to Le Port.

Geography

The town of Saint-Pierre is at the beginning of the only major road N3 across the island. From here, the road leads to Le Tampon, La Plaine des Cafres and Bourg Murat. From that area, there is a relatively easy access to the Piton de la Fournaise and a starting point of many excursions.

Climate

Saint-Pierre has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh), while Ligne Paradis and Ravine des Cabris's climate type has tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) in the southeast of the area. The average annual temperature in Saint-Pierre (downtown) is 24.1 °C (75.4 °F). The average annual rainfall is 672.1 mm (26.46 in) with February as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 27.3 °C (81.1 °F), and lowest in July, at around 20.9 °C (69.6 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Saint-Pierre (downtown) was 35.7 °C (96.3 °F) on 20 February 2007; the coldest temperature ever recorded was 12.6 °C (54.7 °F) on 15 September 2020.

Climate data for Saint-Pierre (downtown, altitude 61m, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1997−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.6
(96.1) 		35.7
(96.3) 		34.5
(94.1) 		33.2
(91.8) 		32.0
(89.6) 		30.5
(86.9) 		31.5
(88.7) 		29.4
(84.9) 		30.7
(87.3) 		31.7
(89.1) 		32.8
(91.0) 		34.9
(94.8) 		35.7
(96.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.6
(88.9) 		31.6
(88.9) 		31.1
(88.0) 		29.9
(85.8) 		28.2
(82.8) 		26.5
(79.7) 		25.6
(78.1) 		26.0
(78.8) 		26.8
(80.2) 		28.0
(82.4) 		29.5
(85.1) 		30.9
(87.6) 		28.8
(83.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.1
(80.8) 		27.1
(80.8) 		26.5
(79.7) 		25.3
(77.5) 		23.6
(74.5) 		21.8
(71.2) 		20.9
(69.6) 		21.0
(69.8) 		21.7
(71.1) 		23.0
(73.4) 		24.5
(76.1) 		26.1
(79.0) 		24.1
(75.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.5
(72.5) 		22.6
(72.7) 		21.9
(71.4) 		20.7
(69.3) 		19.0
(66.2) 		17.1
(62.8) 		16.2
(61.2) 		16.0
(60.8) 		16.6
(61.9) 		18.0
(64.4) 		19.6
(67.3) 		21.3
(70.3) 		19.3
(66.7)
Record low °C (°F) 18.4
(65.1) 		17.6
(63.7) 		17.8
(64.0) 		16.6
(61.9) 		14.7
(58.5) 		13.4
(56.1) 		13.1
(55.6) 		12.9
(55.2) 		12.6
(54.7) 		14.5
(58.1) 		15.7
(60.3) 		17.1
(62.8) 		12.6
(54.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 108.7
(4.28) 		116.1
(4.57) 		97.2
(3.83) 		74.8
(2.94) 		47.7
(1.88) 		49.5
(1.95) 		53.4
(2.10) 		25.6
(1.01) 		20.5
(0.81) 		17.3
(0.68) 		30.9
(1.22) 		53.0
(2.09) 		694.7
(27.35)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.1 8.3 8.0 6.7 5.5 6.2 6.1 3.7 2.8 2.5 2.6 4.4 63.9
Source: Météo France[3]
Climate data for Saint-Pierre (Pierrefonds Airport, altitude 21m, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1999–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.8
(96.4) 		35.1
(95.2) 		34.8
(94.6) 		33.1
(91.6) 		32.0
(89.6) 		29.9
(85.8) 		30.5
(86.9) 		28.6
(83.5) 		28.6
(83.5) 		30.6
(87.1) 		32.1
(89.8) 		33.8
(92.8) 		35.8
(96.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.3
(88.3) 		31.1
(88.0) 		30.7
(87.3) 		29.6
(85.3) 		27.9
(82.2) 		26.3
(79.3) 		25.3
(77.5) 		25.6
(78.1) 		26.3
(79.3) 		27.7
(81.9) 		29.0
(84.2) 		30.5
(86.9) 		28.4
(83.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.5
(81.5) 		27.5
(81.5) 		27.0
(80.6) 		25.9
(78.6) 		24.2
(75.6) 		22.5
(72.5) 		21.5
(70.7) 		21.6
(70.9) 		22.3
(72.1) 		23.6
(74.5) 		25.0
(77.0) 		26.7
(80.1) 		24.6
(76.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23.8
(74.8) 		23.8
(74.8) 		23.3
(73.9) 		22.1
(71.8) 		20.5
(68.9) 		18.7
(65.7) 		17.7
(63.9) 		17.6
(63.7) 		18.2
(64.8) 		19.5
(67.1) 		21.0
(69.8) 		22.8
(73.0) 		20.8
(69.4)
Record low °C (°F) 20.4
(68.7) 		20.1
(68.2) 		20.2
(68.4) 		18.7
(65.7) 		15.7
(60.3) 		14.6
(58.3) 		14.2
(57.6) 		13.8
(56.8) 		14.7
(58.5) 		15.1
(59.2) 		16.5
(61.7) 		18.8
(65.8) 		13.8
(56.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 100.5
(3.96) 		110.3
(4.34) 		95.9
(3.78) 		72.9
(2.87) 		44.2
(1.74) 		49.8
(1.96) 		50.2
(1.98) 		27.6
(1.09) 		19.5
(0.77) 		17.8
(0.70) 		28.8
(1.13) 		45.9
(1.81) 		663.4
(26.12)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.7 7.8 7.4 6.6 5.2 6.2 6.3 3.7 2.7 2.5 2.2 4.1 61.4
Source: Météo France[4]
Climate data for Saint-Pierre (Ligne Paradis, altitude 156m, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1966–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 34.7
(94.5) 		35.3
(95.5) 		34.5
(94.1) 		33.1
(91.6) 		31.9
(89.4) 		31.0
(87.8) 		31.3
(88.3) 		29.3
(84.7) 		30.6
(87.1) 		31.9
(89.4) 		33.2
(91.8) 		35.0
(95.0) 		35.3
(95.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.0
(87.8) 		30.8
(87.4) 		30.3
(86.5) 		29.2
(84.6) 		27.5
(81.5) 		25.7
(78.3) 		24.8
(76.6) 		25.2
(77.4) 		26.2
(79.2) 		27.5
(81.5) 		28.8
(83.8) 		30.2
(86.4) 		28.1
(82.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.6
(79.9) 		26.5
(79.7) 		25.9
(78.6) 		24.8
(76.6) 		23.1
(73.6) 		21.3
(70.3) 		20.4
(68.7) 		20.6
(69.1) 		21.4
(70.5) 		22.6
(72.7) 		24.0
(75.2) 		25.6
(78.1) 		23.6
(74.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.1
(71.8) 		22.2
(72.0) 		21.6
(70.9) 		20.5
(68.9) 		18.7
(65.7) 		17.0
(62.6) 		16.0
(60.8) 		15.9
(60.6) 		16.5
(61.7) 		17.8
(64.0) 		19.3
(66.7) 		21.0
(69.8) 		19.1
(66.4)
Record low °C (°F) 17.1
(62.8) 		18.0
(64.4) 		17.3
(63.1) 		15.5
(59.9) 		14.9
(58.8) 		13.4
(56.1) 		12.0
(53.6) 		12.2
(54.0) 		12.1
(53.8) 		13.0
(55.4) 		15.0
(59.0) 		15.5
(59.9) 		12.0
(53.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 146.4
(5.76) 		144.7
(5.70) 		127.5
(5.02) 		101.2
(3.98) 		72.2
(2.84) 		66.5
(2.62) 		81.8
(3.22) 		41.1
(1.62) 		32.3
(1.27) 		28.8
(1.13) 		41.7
(1.64) 		71.4
(2.81) 		955.6
(37.62)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 8.3 9.3 8.7 7.7 6.6 7.4 7.7 4.7 3.6 3.0 2.9 5.2 75.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 240.8 199.0 219.6 208.3 220.8 213.9 235.5 241.9 229.2 240.9 255.2 232.4 2,737.3
Source 1: Météo France[5]
Source 2: Meteociel.fr (sunshine 1981-2010)[6]
Climate data for Saint-Pierre (Ravine des Cabris, altitude 310m, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1997–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 34.1
(93.4) 		34.2
(93.6) 		34.3
(93.7) 		33.7
(92.7) 		31.0
(87.8) 		29.8
(85.6) 		29.2
(84.6) 		28.6
(83.5) 		29.7
(85.5) 		30.5
(86.9) 		33.2
(91.8) 		32.8
(91.0) 		34.3
(93.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.9
(85.8) 		30.1
(86.2) 		29.8
(85.6) 		28.8
(83.8) 		27.0
(80.6) 		25.3
(77.5) 		24.5
(76.1) 		24.9
(76.8) 		25.4
(77.7) 		26.4
(79.5) 		27.7
(81.9) 		29.0
(84.2) 		27.4
(81.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.2
(77.4) 		25.4
(77.7) 		24.9
(76.8) 		23.8
(74.8) 		22.0
(71.6) 		20.1
(68.2) 		19.2
(66.6) 		19.5
(67.1) 		20.0
(68.0) 		21.2
(70.2) 		22.6
(72.7) 		24.2
(75.6) 		22.3
(72.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 20.6
(69.1) 		20.7
(69.3) 		20.0
(68.0) 		18.7
(65.7) 		16.9
(62.4) 		15.0
(59.0) 		14.0
(57.2) 		14.0
(57.2) 		14.6
(58.3) 		15.9
(60.6) 		17.5
(63.5) 		19.3
(66.7) 		17.3
(63.1)
Record low °C (°F) 16.2
(61.2) 		16.3
(61.3) 		16.0
(60.8) 		14.1
(57.4) 		12.7
(54.9) 		11.1
(52.0) 		9.2
(48.6) 		10.1
(50.2) 		10.7
(51.3) 		11.5
(52.7) 		12.8
(55.0) 		15.5
(59.9) 		9.2
(48.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 205.7
(8.10) 		158.9
(6.26) 		126.5
(4.98) 		92.5
(3.64) 		53.7
(2.11) 		46.5
(1.83) 		54.9
(2.16) 		22.3
(0.88) 		31.6
(1.24) 		27.5
(1.08) 		39.3
(1.55) 		89.6
(3.53) 		949.0
(37.36)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 11.0 10.7 8.9 7.0 5.4 5.5 5.3 2.9 3.7 3.2 4.0 7.5 74.9
Source: Météo France[7]

Transportation

Pierrefonds Airport is located 5.5 kilometres outside of the commune.[8] Opened in 1999, this is a small airport for commercial traffic. It has an IATA code of ZSE.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1961 33,947—    
1967 40,355+2.92%
1974 46,060+1.91%
1982 50,082+1.05%
1990 58,846+2.04%
1999 68,915+1.77%
2007 75,265+1.11%
2012 80,823+1.44%
2017 84,212+0.82%
Source: SPLAF[9] and INSEE (1967-2017)[10]

Accommodations

There are no major hotels in Saint-Pierre. Comfort is only available at smaller houses such as converted Creole mansions and villas.

  • Hôtel de Ville
    Hôtel de Ville
  • City of Saint-Pierre
    City of Saint-Pierre
  • Port
    Port
  • Beach in the evening
    Beach in the evening
  • Hotel Villa Morgane
    Hotel Villa Morgane
  • Sunset
    Sunset

Twin towns-Sister cities

Saint-Pierre is twinned with Beau-Bassin Rose-Hill, Mauritius.

See also

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 6 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ "climate of Pierrefonds 1991-2020" (PDF) (in French). Météo-France. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "climate of Pierrefonds Aeroport 1991-2020" (PDF) (in French). Météo-France. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "climate of Ligne Paradis 1991-2020" (PDF) (in French). Météo-France. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  6. ^ "Normales / Moyennes 1981-2010 / Ligne-Paradis - Cirad (974)" (in French). Météo-France. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  7. ^ "Climate of Ravine des Cabris 1991-2020" (PDF) (in French). Météo-France. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  8. ^ FMEP – SAINT PIERRE PIERREFONDS. AIP from French Service d'information aéronautique, effective 31 October 2024.
  9. ^ SPLAF (la Population et les Limites Administratives de la France). "Agglomérations et villes de la Réunion" [Towns and cities of Reunion Island]. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  10. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
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