Country Information on Mauritius 

Terrain

The island of Mauritius is of volcanic origin. The island rises from the plains in the north to form a plateau in the centre of the country. The country's mountainous south includes the island's highest peak, Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire (826 m). In the plateau area, there are several lakes, and numerous rivers running to the sea have their source there. Mauritius is almost completely surrounded by coral reefs that are important for tourism and fishing.

Climate

The Mauritian climate is tropical. The annual average temperature is 26.7°C on the coast. Annual precipitation averages between 1,016 mm on the coast and around 5,080 mm on the plateau. The coolest period is from July to September with temperatures between 16 and 24°C. Cyclones hit the island approximately every 15 years between November and May.

Fauna/Flora

More than half of the soil under cultivation is used for growing sugar cane, which is why so many trees have been felled. At present only about 3% of the island's total surface is covered in forests. Dolphins and sea turtles that have their habitat in the numerous reefs as well as various species of whale and fish have been severely affected by water pollution.

Numerous areas have been turned into nature reserves, the most well-known is the Black River Gorges National Park. Wild boars and macaques are found in the national parks, as are many different species of birds that are in danger of extinction.

History/Politics

Despite the fact that Mauritius was known to the Arabs before the 10th century, when the Portuguese reached the island in the late 15th century, they found it was still uninhabited. Attracted by the ebony to be found on the island, the Dutch occupied Mauritius in 1598, but eventually abandoned it in 1710. Soon afterwards, in 1721, French explorers colonised the island and renamed it Île de France.

After the French Revolution, the island was given some autonomy but was conquered by the British in 1810 and declared a British colony in 1814. The abolition of slavery in 1835 led to labour shortages, and plantation owners were forced to take on immigrant agricultural workers from India right up to the early 20th century. The local labour union movement became the Labour Party in 1936, which led to confrontations with the colonial administration.

After World War II, the island was again given a degree of autonomy, and a new government structure was established in 1957.

The first free general elections were held in 1959, and Mauritius gained its independence from the British on 12 March 1968. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was elected the country's first prime minister. He was to govern the country for the first 14 years after it gained its independence. Ramgoolam's term in office was characterised by fraud and oppression. During the 1970s, the opposition party Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) gained importance, and in 1982 it came to power under Anerood Jugnauth, who became prime minister. After Jugnauth had left the party because of an internal power struggle a year later, he founded a new political movement, the Mauritian Socialist Movement, which gained the majority of Parliament seats together with the Labour Party in 1983.

In March 1992, Mauritius gave up its status as a constitutional monarchy and was proclaimed a presidential republic. Cassam Uteem became the country's first president in June 1992. In 2001, the country experienced a serious political crisis when two presidents refused within just one week to sign an anti-terror law which was considered too strict. In 2002, the National Assembly finally elected Karl Hoffmann president, but he was replaced just a year later, in 2003, by Anerood Jugnauth, who is still president of the country today.

Economy

In addition to sugar cane, the main product which is refined in factories, tea, peanuts and tobacco are also important to the economy. The tourism and industry sectors (e.g. production of textiles, electronic components, knotting, working precious stones) are growing constantly.

Over the past two decades, an increase in tourism has led to a constant rise in employment opportunities and the country's GDP is one of the highest in Africa. The country has attracted considerable foreign investment, which has increased economic diversity. Especially in the 1970s and 1980s, the economy boomed; since the end of the eighties, economic growth has slowed down. In 2003, the inflation rate was 5.6%, while unemployment was at 9.8%.

Culture

Hindu holidays frequently honour the victory of gods or are dedicated to one of the principles of Hinduism. Cavadee is celebrated at the beginning of the year in honour of the liberation of Idumban who carried two mountains on his shoulders. The Holi celebrations (Fire Festival) between February and March symbolise the victory of good over evil. Maha Shivarati (Shiva's Nights) is celebrated at the same time. The festival sees pilgrims dress in white and get blessed water from the holy Ganga Talao Lake to put it in front of an image of Shiva (one of the three main Hindu gods). Divali, the festival of light, is celebrated at new moon in late autumn. It commemorates the victory of dharma over adharma, i.e. of light over darkness.