Mauritius

Geography

Bathed by the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is situated in 900 km east of Madagascar. Of a 2040 km surface ², its territory includes islands Agalega, archipelago Holy Firebrand and islands Rodrigues. His capital is Port Louis. The coast is lined with a narrow coastal plain.

The inside of lands is established by a vast basalt tray, by a volcanic origin, which peaks in 828 m, in the Hook of the Small Black River.

The climate is tropical, with plentiful precipitation. The island is regularly annihilated by cyclones.

Population

The Mauritians arise from interbreedings between Indian, African populations, Malagasy, Chinese and French. About 50 % of them are Indian

. We count 30 % of Christians and 17 % of Moslems. The rate of fertility is weak: a little more than 2 children by woman. Port Louis, the capital, is the first port of the island.

History

At about Xth century, Arabic and Indian navigators make the first gratitudes of the island. In 1598, the Dutch admiral Wijbrand Van Warwijck annexes the island, uninhabited, in the name of the East India Company oriental.

In 1715, the French people settle down in Maurice and rename her "Paris and the surrounding area". The colonists arrive in 1721 and Port Louis. The island becomes royal ownership in 1767.

In 1814, the English people annex the island, whereas in the 1930s, the first nationalist movements appear.

The island obtains in 1961 a partial autonomy, and en1992, it becomes an independent republic.