Wondering where Mauritius is located? Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa. It is part of the Mascarene Islands. The capital is Port Louis. (It is, Republic of Mauritius.)
Mauritius lies about 500 miles (800 km) east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Its outlying territories include island of Rodrigues , situated about 340 miles (550 km) eastward, the Cargados Carajos Shoals, 250 miles (400 km) northeastward, and the Agalega Islands, 580 miles (930 km) northward from the main island. Mauritius also claims sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago (including Diego Garcia), some 1,250 miles (2,000 km) to the northeast. Britain disputes this claim
About Mauritius
Mauritius is a young island. It formed from volcanoes about 8 million years ago. It is part of the Mascarene Islands with Saint Brandon, Réunion, and Rodrigues. These islands formed from huge underwater volcanic eruptions. But, there are no active volcanoes on Mauritius.
Mauritius is also quite mountainous. It has mountain ranges from 300 to 800 m (1,000 to 2,600 ft) high. The land rises from coastal plains to a plateau at about 2,200 ft (670 m). The island’s highest point is in the southwest, at Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire. It is 2,717 ft (828 m) above sea level. Streams and rivers are scattered throughout the island. Many run in fissures made by lava flows. The island also has two natural lakes, both in old craters, and a man-made reservoir.
Mauritius is divided into nine districts. Port Louis, located in the north of the capital and the largest city, is the economic, cultural and political center of the country and is also the most populous city in Mauritius, with a population of about 150,000. Other settlements on the island range from large towns with populations between 20,000 and 100,000 to over 100 small villages with populations ranging from a few hundred to 10,000.
Although Port Louis in the north is undoubtedly the center of business activity in Mauritius, the majority of those who work there prefer to live in the neighboring towns and suburbs of the central plateau, which are cooler than the coast.