Mauritius Overview
Mauritius is a popular luxury destination in the Indian Ocean, and on the surface smaller than Gotland. Mark Twain considered the island so beautiful that he wrote that God created Mauritius, then he created paradise as a copy.
Capital: | Port Louis |
Biggest city: | Port Louis |
State: | republic |
Language: | English |
Religion: | Hinduism, Christianity |
Surface: | 2 040 km² |
Population: | 1.3 million (2013) |
Population density: | 629 residents per km² |
Life expectancy: | 74 years |
Illiteracy: | 16% |
Currency: | Mauritian rupee (MUR) 1 rupee = 0.24 kr |
GDP per capita: | $ 13,000 (2010) |
Time difference: | +3 hours |
Electricity: | 220/240 V AC, 50 Hz |
National Day: | the 12th of March |
Country area code: | 230 |
2-Letter country abbreviation: | MU (See more abbreviations on Abbreviationfinder) |
Business: | service sector 51%, agriculture 27%, industry 22% |
Climate: | tropical, mitigated by trade winds |
Mauritius is one of the most exclusive and fascinating holiday islands in the Indian Ocean, located 800 km east of Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa. The archipelago consists of the main island of Mauritius, the volcanic island of Rodrigues, and the archipelagos of Agaleg and Saint Brandon.
Mauritius also claims the Chagos Islands, including Atoll Diego Garcia, which until 1965 was administered under Mauritius. The French island of Tromelin is also claimed. In June 2010, Mauritius and France entered into an agreement to jointly manage the island.
Despite sporadic unrest, Mauritius has been able to show political stability and economic growth. The country has long had one of Africa’s strongest economies, and has gone from being an agricultural economy, to a more versatile economy in industry, finance and tourism. The people of Mauritius today have a standard of living that is among the highest in Africa.
Mauritius is also known as the home of the now extinct queen, who lacked flying ability. In the 1990s, the country was number three on the UN’s list of the countries with the most endangered species. Wildlife in Mauritius today is relatively species-poor and highly endangered.
WORLD HERITAGE
The following objects in Mauritius are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The year in which the item was added to the list is indicated in parentheses.
- Aapravasi Ghat (2006)
- Le Morne Cultural Landscape (2008)
ELECTRICAL OUTLET
Electricity and electrical outlets in Mauritius
Voltage: 230 V
Frequency: 50 Hz
Type of plug: C, G
Need an adapter: No, you do not need an adapter.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Weather in Port Louis
Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Christmas | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Average temperature °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Day °C | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 28 |
Night °C | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
Rain (mm) | 216 | 198 | 221 | 127 | 97 | 66 | 58 | 64 | 36 | 41 | 46 | 117 |
Rainy days | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
Soltim / day | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
Port Louis
According to Countryaah, Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius and has 147,688 residents (2003). The city is located on the northwest coast of Mauritius, and has a port in the Indian Ocean that is the country’s most important. Port Louis was founded in 1735 by French colonizers.
Port Mathurin
Port Mathurin is the capital of the island of Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean. It is located on the north coast of the island, and has about 6,000 residents. The first French settlers landed on the island in 1691 at the site of the future capital. The French founded the city in 1735.