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MAURITIUS - The facts

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		GEOGRAPHY: GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: 20 17 S, 57 33 E TOTAL LAND AREA: Total: 2,040 sq km Land: 2,030 sq km Water: 10 sq km Note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues COASTLINE: 177 km MARITIME CLAIMS: Territorial sea: 12 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Continental Shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
				TERRAIN: Small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau ELEVATION EXTREMES: Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m Highest point: Mont Piton 828 m Geography - note: The main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs POPULATION: 1,240,827 (July 2006 est.)
		ETHNIC GROUPS: Indo-Mauritian, Creole, Sino-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian RELIGIONS: Hindu, Roman Catholic, other Christian, Muslim ECONOMY: INDUSTRY: Food Processing (Largely Sugar Milling), Textiles, Clothing, Chemicals, Metal Products, Transport Equipment, No electrical Machinery, Tourism AGRICULTURE: Sugar Cane, Tea, Corn, Potatoes, Bananas, Pulses; Cattle, Goats; Fish
		GOVERNMENT: Date of Independence: 12 March 1968 from UK President of the Republic of Mauritius: Sir Anerood Jugnauth GOVERNMENT TYPE: Mauritius is a democratic state based on the Westminster model and enjoys political stability. LEGAL SYSTEM: Based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations MAURITIUS TOURISM PROMOTION AUTHORITY Tel:+(230) 208 6397 Fax: +(230) 212 5142 Website: www.mauritius.net

VACATION RENTALS | CAR RENTALS

Port Louis :
On the west coast towards the north is Mauritius' capital, Port Louis, which remains a hive of business and government activity. A kaleidoscope of color and activity, sight, smell and sounds. The city has plenty of character, activities, and in some quarters, signs of its past elegance are still evident. However, it retains much of its diversity of character with both a Chinatown and a Muslim area. There are few entertainment facilities in town to attract visitors by night and also a major new development on the waterfront. There are the market for bargains; a drive to the top of La Citadelle for the marvellous view; admire the grand 19th-century buildings; see the reconstructed dodo and rare artifacts at the fascinating Natural History Museum.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden :
Also known as the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens, it is only a short 15-minute drive from Port Louis. These modest but well kept gardens are a highlight of a visit to Mauritius. Though there are few flowers inside, one key attraction is the park's giant Victoria regia water lilies, native to the Amazon. From the centre of a huge pad, the lily's flower opens white one day and closes red the next.

Grand Baie :
Once a small fishing village, it is now the main tourist town for visitors and resident alike, with many hotels and restaurants. Grand Baie is nestled in a picturesque bay at the northern tip of the island. Its coastline is the main centre for yachting, water-skiing, windsurfing and many other sports. Intimate art galleries and a wide variety of boutique clothing and fasinating souvenir shops also fill the town.

Eureka House :
Eureka House, a magnificent and beautifully restored Creole-style house is reputed to be one of the largest house on the island, with 109 doors and windows. Built in the 1830s, it was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1986. The museum has areas dedicated to music, art, antique maps, Chinese and Indian housewares and quirky contraptions like a colonial-era shower.

Domaine Les Pailles :
Ten minutes from South of Port Louis, lies the nature park of Domaine Les Pailles, stretching over 1,500 hectares. Domaine Les Pailles is an elaborate cultural centre that includes facilities for horse-drawn carriage and train rides, plus a working replica of an ox-powered sugar mill, a rum distillery, an herb garden, a natural spring and a children's play area.

Curepipe :
Curepipe is the island's main urban centre, a pleasant town which lacks the atmosphere of Port Louis but has good shops and restaurants. The most central and highest town, it has long been a favourite place of residence for those wishing to escape the tropical weather. With its very humid climate and rainy winters, Curepipe is surrounded by lush green countryside as well as a few remaining tea fields from which the Mauritian vanilla tea is produced. The town has a mixture of architecture with old wooden colonial buildings livening up the concrete jungle. Between Curepipe and Floreal is the spectacular Trou aux Cerfs, an extinct crater 85m deep and more than 200m wide, from the rim of which one enjoys an extensive view of the island.

Mahébourg :
Mahébourg is one of the main town in the southern region of Mauritius. A historic town and one of the main fishing centres, it was once a busy port. Although there is not much tourist development here, there is a Naval Museum housed in the French colonial mansion where in 1810 the English and French naval commanders, both wounded in battle, were brought to be given medical care. A handicraft village built in typical island architecture is found in the premises of the museum.

Moka :
Moka, 12km south of Port Louis, is the island's centre of academia. Here, the University of Mauritius shares the bulk of the island's scholars with the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, founded to preserve and promote Mauritian Indian culture. This town is also blessed with beautiful landscapes, towering mountains and a number of impressive manor houses.

Rivière Noire Gorges :
Rivière Noire Gorges natural park is next to Plaine Champagne comprising of the banks cut out of the mountains by the Rivière Noire. The area was designated as a protected natural reserve by the government and permission is required for hiking through the forest, though not to drive through.

Plaine Champagne
Plaine Champagne is the highest part of the central plateau (740m/2430ft), from where there is a superb view of the Rivière Noire Mountains and the sea lining the horizon. A few steep and winding roads are the only way to reach the Plaine Champagne plateau from the coast, while some narrow roads link the area to the central highlands. Plaine Champagne is part of the natural reserve area and as such still contains some wildlife such as deers, monkeys and, wild boars.

Grand Bassin :
The Grand Bassin is about 6km (4mi) southeast of Mare aux Vacoas and also within a short distance from Mare Longue. Resting in the crater of an extinct volcano, this is one of the island's two natural lakes. Most of the Mauritian devotees of the Hindu faith, clad in spotless white, make a pilgrimage to the holy volcanic lake Grand Bassin during Maha Shivaratree.

La Vanille Crocodile Park :
This farm which breeds Nile crocodiles imported from Madagascar, is located near Rivière des Anguilles, in the south of Mauritius. The animals are bred in captivity for their skin.
The park also displays few other exotic animals found in the wild in Mauritius. A vast park offers a nature walk through the dense tropical vegetation and freshwater springs, while surrounded by sugar cane fields.

Le Caudan Waterfront :
Port Louis is busy with big-city commercial activity by day. By night, in contrast, all is quiet except for the swish new Le Caudan Waterfront. Situated on the south side of the harbour Place d'Armes, this brand new hotel, leisure and shopping complex is an attempt to emulate similar developments in cities such as Cape Town or Hong Kong.
It offers a range exciting activities, namely, a casino, cinemas, shops, bars and restaurants.

Cap Malheureux

Cap Malheureux (Misfortunate Cape) is the northernmost village of Mauritius. This fishing village has a magnificent view of Flat Island, Round Islandand Gunner's Quoin, islands of volcanic origin, rising from the sparkling light-green sea. It was also the landing site for the British troops who seized the island from the French in 1810. There is a small picturesque church by the public beach whose distinctive red roof is featured in countless postcards.