Mauritius on the world map (photos below) can be seen in the Mascarene Islands group. They, in turn, lie in the western region of the Indian Ocean, at a distance of about 800 kilometers east of Madagascar. The state itself, in addition to the island of the same name (about 91% of the country's total area is located on it), occupies three more - Agalega, Rodrigues and Cargados Carajos. Port Louis is the capital and business center of the region.
History of the State
Speaking about where Mauritius is located, one cannot help but recall a few historical facts that are associated with it. The island was first discovered in the sixteenth century by the Portuguese. From 1638 until 1710 it was owned by Holland. The name of the country is connected with its ruler Mauritius de Nasso. In 1715, it became the property of France, which set up its naval base here. The period of active development and prosperity here began in 1735, when Francois Mahe de La Bourdonnet was appointed local governor. At this time, many roads, hospitals, bridges andother objects. In addition, in order to further export to Europe, sugar cane was grown here in large volumes, as well as cotton and rice.
In 1810, the island was captured by the English flotilla, which greatly outnumbered the French. It was under British ownership until March 12, 1968, when its independence and sovereignty were proclaimed.
State structure, population and currency
In Mauritius, the head of state is the president, and the legislature is the unicameral Assembly. The population of the country is almost 1.3 million inhabitants. The official language is English. However, most of the population is fluent in French and Creole. The local currency is the Mauritian rupee. It should be noted that it is possible to pay both in the markets and in stores only with it. Currency exchange is not limited. In terms of religion, about half of the locals are Hindus, 30 percent are Christians, and the rest are Buddhists and Muslims.
Geography
The island of Mauritius on the world map is a small, almost imperceptible dot. This is not surprising, since its total area is only 1865 square kilometers. Most of the territory is flat. Along with this, in the central part there is a plateau and a number of low mountains. Peak Rivière Noire is the largest and rises above sea level at 828 meters. The island is surrounded on all sides by coralreefs that protect it from severe storms. They also contribute to the presence of a large number of species of tropical fish. Along the coast there are many beautiful sandy beaches, which are indented by small bays. In the eastern and northern parts of the island, nature has created favorable conditions for growing various crops.
Climate
Not every person is able, without hesitation, to indicate where Mauritius is located on the world map. Despite this, tours here are very popular. First of all, this is due to the favorable climate, which allows tourists to relax here throughout the year.
Summer falls here from November to April. The air temperature at this time can reach 33 degrees. Despite this, thanks to the pleasant wind and not very high (compared to other tropical islands) humidity, the heat is easily tolerated. There are no prolonged showers on the island - most often the rain ends within a few minutes after the start, after which the previous heat sets in again. The winter season runs from May to October. During it, in the area where Mauritius is located, the air temperature ranges from 17 to 23 degrees. It should be noted that the water in the ocean remains warm throughout the year.
As for the amount of precipitation, in the western and northern parts they fall about 1500 millimeters per year, and in the eastern -about 5000 millimeters. Most of them are typical for the period from December to March. In summer, many cyclones often form, but they do not have a destructive force.
Tourist attraction
From a tourist point of view, the island of Mauritius, where there are a large number of hotels and hotels, looks very attractive due to the high level of local service. That is why many rich people of the world prefer to relax here, including members of royal families, heads of European states, actors, businessmen and others. Absolutely all employees of local hotels are required to undergo specialized training. Each hotel on the island is a kind of town, where there are beaches, shops, restaurants, bars, golf courses, tennis courts and other forms of entertainment. An interesting feature is that the usual five-star classification system does not apply here. At the same time, living conditions, even in inexpensive bungalows, are very comfortable. Public beaches are cleaned daily not only from garbage, but also from algae and coral debris. Photos of the island of Mauritius are a vivid confirmation of this.
Transportation
In the country, almost all transportation is carried out by road. At the same time, all cities have their own railway stations. A fairly common form of transport is also a taxi. When using its services, it is recommended to negotiate the cost of the trip in advance, since there are no meters in most cars.
On the islands where Mauritius is located, left-hand traffic operates, so it takes a little getting used to traveling independently. Due to the small area, you can go around it in one day. The only important nuance to keep in mind is that gas stations do not accept bank cards for payment - only cash. A map of Mauritius Island is all you need on the road. The maximum allowable speed on the territory of settlements is 50 km/h, and on other highways - 80 km/h. There are no problems with renting a car on the island. The main thing is to reach the age of 23 and have a driver's license.
Prohibitions
Spearfishing is strictly prohibited in the country. In addition, it is not allowed to lift any objects from the bottom of the sea without obtaining the appropriate permission from local authorities. Coral breaking and collecting is subject to strict administrative liability under local law. It also applies to purchasing them from local sellers. As for fishing, on the high seas it is allowed for large fish (most often marlin) only when using specialized boats.
Dangers
Given the location of Mauritius, it can be assumed that the bites of representatives of the local fauna are potentially dangerous. Actually this is not true. The worst option in most cases isonly allergic reactions. Particular care should be taken in the water, where the thorns and thorns of marine life can cause painful wounds. It is extremely undesirable to dive outside the lagoons, since strong currents are characteristic of these places. As for piped water, it is thoroughly purified on the island, so it can be consumed from the tap. Food products sold in local markets are also quite safe.
