Beverly Naismith, age 15, of Lowell, Mass., for her question:

WHO OWNS REUNION ISLAND?

Reunion is a well known island in the Indian Ocean, about 400 miles east of the Malagasy Republic. Since 1946, the island has been an overseas department of France. Reunion's important and famous products include vanilla, tea, sugar cane, perfumes and corn. The population of about 500,000 consists largely of French Creoles, with some Indians and Chinese.

The island was discovered by the Portuguese in the early 1500s. It was not settled until the French took possession in 1642. They originally named it Bourbon. The island received its present name in 1848.

Reunion is of volcanic origin. It covers 969 square miles. Saint Denis is the capital city. release Tuesday, June 25, 1985