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Geography
Mauritius is
situated in the Indian Ocean, approximately 2,400 kilometres (1,240 miles)
off the South East Coast of Africa. The island, which is of volcanic
origin, covers an area of 1,865 square kilometres (720 square miles).
Coral reefs surround most of the coast except the south. The central
plateau is bordered by three mountain ranges giving rise to a landscape of
striking beauty.
Climate
Mauritius enjoys a
perenially sunny climate, in general. Midwinter occurs in June and July
with midday temperatures of 25 degrees Celcius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) on
the coast and 19 degrees Celcius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) on the plateau.
Midsummer occurs in January and February with midday temperatures around
25 degrees Celcius on the plateau and 31 degrees Celcius (88 degrees
Fahrenheit)on the coast.
Background
Dutch sailors first
visited the island in 1598 and named it Mauritius, after their
ruler Prince Maurice de Nassau. The island was inhabited until the 17th
century, although it has been visited by the Arabs and later by the
Portuguese. The first settlement was attempted by the Dutch in 1638. Since
then, Mauritius have witnessed the arrival of people from Europe, Africa,
Madagascar, India and China, resulting in a unique blend of races.
Mauritius acceded to Independence on 12 March, 1968 and became Republic on
12 March, 1992.
Population and Language
The population
numbers some 1 100 000 inhabitants. English, French and Creole are widely
spoken.
Government
The Republic of
Mauritius has a presidential democracy. The President is the Head ofState and Commander-in-Chief. Full executive powers
rests with the Prime Minister, who is the Head of Government. Legislative
power rests with a unicameral 62-seat National Assembly which is elected
by universal suffrage for a five-year term.
Legal
System
Mauritius enjoys a hybrid legal system. The procedural law both in
criminal and civil litigation is mainly English, whilst the substantive
law is mainly based on the French Napoleonic Code.
Currency
The Mauritian
currency unit is the Rupee, denoted by the symbol Rs. Rs 1 = 100
cents.
Exchange rates(approx.)
| US $ 1 |
Rs 27.50 |
EURO 1 |
Rs 33.35 |
| United Kingdom Pound 1 |
Rs 47.42 |
Japan Yen 100 |
Rs 25.67 |
| Singapore $ 1 |
Rs 16.30 |
Swiss Franc 1 |
Rs 21.48 |
| South African Rand 1 |
Rs 4.48 |
Austrialian $ 1 |
Rs 20.32 |
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