Small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
Climate
Tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm dry winter (May to November); hot wet humid summer (November to May)
Natural Hazards
Small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
Note:
The main island from which the country derives its name is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; home of the dodo a large flightless bird related to pigeons driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species
Neighbouring Countries
History
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French assumed control in 1715 developing the island into an important naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base and later an air station playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations as well as the collection of signals intelligence. Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather declining sugar prices and declining textile and apparel production have slowed economic growth leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community. Read more on Wikipedia
