MAURITIUS

Mauritius is an island nation off the coast of Africa in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers (560 mi) east of Madagascar and about 3,943 kilometers (2,450 mi) southwest of India.

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar .

Geography

The main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs.

Capital

Port Louis

Climate

Tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Language

Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)

Monetary Unit

Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Largest Cities

Port Louis

Places to Visit

Port Louis, Curepipe, Rose Hill and Beau-Bassin, Quatre Bornes

Principal rivers

Tana, Athi

Airports

Mauritius International, Rodrigues Is.