Location
Mauritius is situated in the south west Indian Ocean, slightly over the tropic of Capricorn, in latitude 20° south and longitude 57° east of Greenwich. It is 2,000 km off the east coast of Africa and some 855 km east of Madagascar. An island of volcanic origin with an area of 1,864 km2, it is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs.
The land rises from coastal plains to a central plateau where it reaches a height of 670 meters. The plateau is bordered by three mountain ranges, the highest peak, the Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire, rising to 828 m. It enjoys a maritime sub-tropical climate with temperatures averaging 22° C on the plateau.
Cultures
Mauritius has a cosmopolitan culture. Co-existence among Mauritians of Indian, African, European and Chinese ancestry has led to a sharing of cultures and values, a collective participation in festivals and increased understanding between people of different backgrounds. Mauritius is today a unique melting pot of peoples, languages and cultures.
Climate
Mauritius has a maritime climate, tropical during summer and sub-tropical during winter. The summer months extend from November to April and winter from May to October.
In the centre of the island, the temperature varies between 13ºC and 19ºC in July - August, and between 19ºC and 25ºC in January. Along the coast, the temperature is about 5ºC higher.
Population
During the last ten years, the population has grown at an average rate of 1.1 per cent annually. At the end of July 2008, the population of the Republic of Mauritius was estimated at 1,268,854.
Currency
Mauritius currency is known as Mauritian Rupee. It is divided into 100 cents. The symbol for the currency of Mauritius is Rs. It is abbreviated as MUR.
The exchange rate indicators of Mauritius currency as per Aug 2010 are given below:
• 1 USD = Rs 32.00
• 1 GBP = Rs 49.00
• 1 EURO = Rs 40.00
• 1 ZAR = Rs 4.00 |
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