Key Facts about Mauritius

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The Indian Navy’s INS Sarvekshak completed the final phase of the hydrographic survey of Mauritius covering an extensive area of over 25,000 square nautical miles.

About Mauritius

• It is an island country in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa.
• It occupies a total area of 2,040 sq. km.
• Mauritius Capital: Port Louis
• One of the smallest countries in the world, this island nation can be found just east of Madagascar in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
• It is made up of the main island of Mauritius and several outlying islands, like Ambre Island, Est Island, Cerfs Island, Benitiers Island, etc.
  • The island of Mauritius is a volcanic island formed by volcanic activity around 8 million years ago. 
• The highest peak in Mauritius, the 828 m tall Mount Piton, is located in the southwest of the plateau.
• The chief water source is Lake Vacoas.
• Mauritius Climate: The climate is maritime subtropical, with fairly uniform temperatures throughout the year.
• Mauritius Languages: Mauritius national language is English, but the majority of the population speak Creole or French.
• Independence: Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968 as a Parliamentary Republic and has remained a stable democracy.
• Mauritius Government: Mauritius is a republic with one legislative house; the head of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. 
• It is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
• Both the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean Commission have their headquarters in Mauritius. 

Mauritius Population

• Approximately two-thirds of the population is of Indo-Pakistani origin, most of whom are descendants of indentured labourers brought to work in the sugar industry during the 19th and early 20th centuries. 
• About one-fourth of the population is Creole (of mixed French and African descent), and there are small numbers of people of Chinese and Franco-Mauritian descent.

Mauritius FAQs

Q1. Why is Mauritius called Mini India?

Ans.Owing to the large Indian-origin population of the country, Mauritius is sometimes referred to as 'mini India'.

Q2. Is Mauritius part of Africa or India?

Ans. Considered part of Africa geographically, Mauritius has friendly relations with other African states in the region, particularly South Africa, by far its largest continental trading partner

Q3. Is a Mauritius visa free for Indians?

Ans. There is no visa requirement for Indian ordinary passport holders visiting Mauritius for any purpose.

Q4. How far is Mauritius from India by flight?

Ans. Mauritius is approximately 4,700 kilometers (2,920 miles) from India, depending on the specific locations being measured.

Source: TH