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Cilaos () is a
town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than city, cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares ...
and commune on the
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
island of
Réunion Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...
in the
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 ...
. It is located centrally on the
island An island or isle is a piece of subcontinental land completely surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island in a river or a lake island may be ...
, in a caldera of altitude 1,214 m. The caldera (usually known as the 'Cirque') is also named for the community.


History

The name ''Cilaos'' comes from the Malagasy word, ''Tsilaosa'' (modern form : ''tsy ilaozana''), which means ''the place one does not abandon''. According to some historians , the word ''Cilaos'' finds its origins in the name of a Malagasy slave named ''Tsilaos'' who took refuge in this cirque. At the time, slaves were called "brown", whereas runaway slaves were called "black-brown". The first inhabitants of the cirque of Cilaos were thus "black-browns" who believed themselves to be at the top of the world and completely safe. However, these first runaways were recaptured very quickly, tracked and hunted by well-organized and well-armed slaveholders. In these runaways' attempts to escape recapture, several were killed. It seems likely that these first runaways created the goat paths that climb most of the mountains on Réunion. After the death or recapture of these runaway slaves, the cirque of Cilaos likely became uninhabited once again for a while, since the first official record of its settlement occur only around 1850. In this year, a spa station was set up, and by 1866, there were 960 inhabitants. By 1900, the population had risen to 2500, and the 1982 census recorded 5629 inhabitants in the whole cirque. From 15 to 16 March 1952, 1,870mm (73 inches) of
rain Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water ...
fell in Cilaos in 24 hours, the greatest amount of
rain Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water ...
ever to fall in one day. Linsley, Kohler & Paulhus, ''World's Greatest Observed Point Rainfalls'', Table 3.1 The commune of Cilaos was created on 4 February 1965 when it seceded from the commune of Saint-Louis.


Population


Embroidery

The introduction of
embroidery Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen ...
was due to the efforts of
Angèle MacAuliffe Angèle is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Angèle (singer) (born Angèle Van Laeken, 1995), Belgian singer *Angèle Dola Akofa Aguigah (born 1955), Togolese archaeologist *Angèle Arsenault (1943–2014), Canadian-Acadian ...
, daughter of a doctor who worked at a hot-spring
clinic A clinic (or outpatient clinic or ambulatory care clinic) is a health facility that is primarily focused on the care of outpatients. Clinics can be privately operated or publicly managed and funded. They typically cover the primary care nee ...
in the early 20th century. The techniques that she introduced have scarcely changed since, and the popularity of "Days of Cilaos" embroidery is due in a large part to this stability and tradition. This local embroidery has been transmitted for over 100 years by local nuns (such as
Sister Cécile A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer t ...
and Sister Irénée). In 1954, the "Sewing room of Cilaos" was created and Sister Anasthasie (
Marie-Hélène Techer Marie-Hélène is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Marie-Hélène Amiable (born 1960), French politician, Mayor of Bagneux *Marie-Hélène Arnaud (1934–1986), French model and actress *Marie-Hélène Aubert (born 1955), Fren ...
) was appointed as its leader. Sister Anasthasie would do her utmost to teach a hundred young girls her embroidery techniques, and she was recognized in 1983 when she received the gold medal " Best worker in France" competition in the lace and embroidery category. In the 1980s, these embroidered works were generally sold out of the workers' homes or more frequently from roadside stands. Furthermore, an association for the promotion of Cilaosian lace was created in 1983 to protect and develop this important craft of the Cirque. In 1985, this association had 50 embroidery workers. Its president was Ms.
Suzanne Maillot Suzanne may refer to: People * Suzanne (given name), a feminine given name (including a list of people with the name) * S. U. Zanne, pen name of August Vandekerkhove (1838–1923), Belgian writer and inventor * Suzanne, pen name of Renée Méndez ...
, Sister Anasthasie's assistant at the "Sewing-room of Cilaos". Today, an embroidery house of the association lets a few workers learn and show tourists this delicate art.


Climate

Cilaos has a subtropical highland climate (''Cwb''), with a mild to warm, very rainy wet season from December to April, and a drier, mild season the rest of the year.


See also

* Communes of the Réunion department


References


External links

* Trail in Cilaos *
The cirque of Cilaos
*
the map of trails in Cilaos
*
les gîtes
: la liste des gîtes et hébergements *
Le Piton des Neiges
{{Authority control Communes of Réunion Calderas of Réunion