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The island nation, which is officially known as the Republic of Mauritius, was christened after Dutch Prince Maurice Van Nassau. Located in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius lies towards the south-east of Africa.
The country comprises several islands, such as Rodrigues, Cargados Carajos and the Agalega. The nearest landmass to this island country is Madagascar, which is located at a distance of around 900 kilometres.
Mauritius has a population of 1.2 million people in its area of 2,040 square kilometres. The population of the country is scattered over all the islands, including those in the outer periphery and Rodrigues. The capital city of this island country is Port Louis, which is also the largest city and main port of Mauritius.
The entire coastline around Mauritius, except the southern end, is protected by the coral reef barrier. The southern end of the island is known for its turbulent waters and steep cliffs. The northern region comprises plains, which gradually form a plateau in the centre. The central plateau is home to extinct volcanic craters and lakes. Other than these, there are also a few islets situated around the main island, which are currently uninhabited.
The official language of Mauritius is English. However, other languages such as Creole and French are also spoken by the common people. Some of the other languages spoken in the country include Bhojpuri and Hindi.
In Mauritius, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism co-exist peacefully, giving the country a thriving multi-ethnic culture. The country is a blend of Indian, Chinese, British, French and African influences, which can be seen in the culture, food and traditions.
Mauritius is ruled by a democratic state, which is modelled after Westminster. Elections take place every five years and the Parliament comprises 62 members. Although the President is considered as the head of the state, the actual constitutional powers are vested in the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
The country was discovered by the Arabs in the 9th century AD. Although the 16th century saw the arrival of the Portuguese, the first people to colonise Mauritius were the Dutch.
The Dutch colonised the country in 1598. This era also saw an environmental degradation of the country, in the form of destruction of ebony forests and extinction of the dodo. The Dutch finally left the country in 1710, after which the French came into power.
Port Louis was founded under the French rule in 1721. The chief historical figure of this time was Governor Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais. In 1814, Mauritius was ceded to the British after a long drawn out war. The British ruled the country for nearly 158 years.
Their achievement was the abolishment of slavery in 1835. The country became a melting pot of cultures, with the arrival of indentured labour from India and traders from China and the Arab countries.
Mauritius achieved independence in 1968. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam became the first Prime Minister of the state. The country became a Republic in 1992 and is still a part of the British Commonwealth.
The best time to visit the country is during the winter season, between the months of June to September. The multicultural country also celebrates various festivals like Cavadee, Father Laval Day and Chinese Spring Festivals, which attract tourists from across the world. The other festivals celebrated in the country include Easter, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Christmas, Maha Shivaratree and others.
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