Mauritius

Mauritius, island republic 500 mi (805 km) east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, comprising the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, and associated archipelagos.

Land and climate

The main island, Mauritius, is surrounded by coral reefs. The island is principally a plateau and approximately 788 sq mi (2,040 sq km) in area. The climate is warm and humid with a cyclone season from Dec. to Mar.

People

More than 60% of the population consists of Indians, about 30% are Creole, a mixture of French and black African, and the remainder are principally Europeans, African, and Chinese. Religions reflect the diversity of the people and include the Hindu religion, Christianity, and Islam. The official language is English and the capital is Port Louis.

Economy

Sugar was the single most important export until the 1980s when it was surpassed by textile products. Tea and tobacco are also cash crops and tourism contributes to the economy as well. But with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants, overpopulation and unemployment are persistent problems for Mauritius.

History

Formerly uninhabited, Mauritius was settled by the Portuguese in the early 1500s but soon abandoned. After a period of Dutch occupation in the 17th century, the French settled the island in 1715, founded the sugar industry, and imported slaves from Africa to work the plantations. The British took Mauritius in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars and when they abolished slavery in the colonies in 1831, the planters resorted to indentured laborers from India. The British first initiated moves toward representative government for the colony in the late 19th century. Mauritius was granted full independence in 1968. Until 1992 Mauritius was a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth, with the British Queen as the head of state. In 1992 the country became a republic with Cassan Uteem as the first elected president.