30 FACTS ABOUT MAURITIUS ISLAND
The gorgeous island of Mauritius, located off the Southeast coast of the African continent in the Southwest Indian Ocean. With wonderful sandy beaches, coral reefs, forested mountains and beautiful national parks and gardens, there is much to see and do on a vacation tour in Mauritius. Read on for 30 interesting facts about Mauritius and learn more about its history, culture, people, economy, tourism, and more…
#1. Mauritius was uninhabited by humans until discovered by the Arabs in the Middle Ages followed by the Portuguese who came next. Neither of them stayed.
#2. As an important base on the trade routes from Europe to the East before the opening of the Suez Canal, it was fought over by the French and British during the Napoleonic years.
#3. Though the French won the naval battle of Grand Port, the British forced the surrender of the island three months later in December 1810. The French settlers were allowed to keep their land, French language and French laws.
#4. Under British rule, Mauritius became the Empire’s main sugar-producing colony. When slavery was abolished by Parliament in 1835, the planters received compensation for their African slaves.
#5. Universal adult suffrage was instituted in March 1959. The country became an independent state in March 1968 and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1992.
#6. Flag of Mauritius – Description: Red represents self-determination and independence, Blue the Indian Ocean surrounding the island, Yellow has been interpreted as the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and Green can symbolize either agriculture or the lush vegetation of the island
#7. The warmest months are January and February. The coolest months are July and August. The best months to visit are from May through December.
#8. Several tropical cyclones generally hit the island between January to March annually.
#9. Prevailing trade winds keep the eastern side of the island cooler and cause more rainfall there than elsewhere on the island.
#10. Mauritius itself is encircled by a broken ring of mountain ranges composed of extinct volcanoes, streams, waterfalls and rivers, all covered in forests.
#11. Its surrounding lagoons are protected from the open sea by the world’s third-largest coral reef, which surrounds the island. These reefs protect beachgoers from attacks by sharks and jellyfish. There are 93 miles(150 km) of white sandy beaches on Mauritius.
#12. Through the Mauritius Wildlife Fund, the island has worked hard to become an international standard for the protection of endangered species and natural resources. Some of the world’s rarest birds are here, including the Pink Pigeon.
#13. Before the arrival of the Portuguese in 1507, the absence of terrestrial animals on the island allowed for the evolution of flightless birds and large reptiles on Mauritius, such as the four million-year-old relative of the pigeon called the Dodo.
#14. The 50-pound Dodo had no predators to attack them and gradually they lost their need (and therefore their ability) to fly.
#15. As Mauritius became a stopover for sailors and their ships on the spice trade route, the Dodo provided much appreciated fresh meat for the men on their layover.
#16. Within a hundred years of the arrival of man, the once plentiful Dodo became a rare bird. The last one was killed in 1681. Today it is the national bird of the country, even though it is extinct.
#17. Mauritius has the highest population density of any African country. The multiethnic population features Indian, African, European (predominantly French) and Chinese people.
#18. French and English are both spoken here, but the mother tongue of most of the islanders is Creole, a patois of French.
#19. Mauritius’ cuisine is a combination of Creole, French, Chinese and Indian influences. Spices are an important part of all dishes.
#20. The capital city is Port Louis. This is the country’s economic hub and is home to over 40 percent of the country’s population.
#21. The ‘Sega’ today is known as ‘La joie de vivre’ is the National folk dance of Mauritius. Its African origins can be traced back to the 18th century when it was performed by slaves as a way to forget their miserable existence.
#22. Winter horse racing is one of the most popular and highly attended sporting events of the islanders’ year.
#23. The Seven Colored Earth is a famous Mauritius attraction. This section of open land consists of sand dunes in seven different colors: brown, red, violet, purple, blue, green and yellow.
See also: Let us take you to Chamarel, Mauritius
#24. At Pereybere public beach tourists can do everything: sunbathe, sail, go tubing, ride paddle boats, and snorkel. The white sand is very soft and the water is a beautiful turquoise. Shops and restaurants are close at hand. Other popular beaches include Le Morne, Mont Choisy (with readily available water sports), and Flic en Flac Beach with its beautiful shade trees.
#25. Water sports such as scuba and snorkeling, water skiing and sailing, are popular activities. Balaclava, Blue Bay, Rodrigues Island, Belle Mare, Flic en Flac, Pereybere, and Trou aux Biches are key sites for these activities.
#26. Ile aux Cerfs is a tiny leisure island but it has a gorgeous beach and is a paradise for water sports. Lying off Trou d’Eau Douce in Mauritius’ largest lagoon, it has an adventure park, an 18-hole golf course and beach restaurants as well.
#27. Grand Bay is the place to check out for restaurants, nightlife, discos and late-night fun. We also operate taxis in Grand Bay on a 7/7 basis.
#28. At the Frederica Nature Reserve you can take in breathtaking views, swim in a waterfall, and hike, go quad biking or take a buggy safari 4 by 4 with a guide.
#29. Visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Mauritius. One is the Grand Bassin Lake, found in one of the forested areas that is peaceful and isolated generally. Hindus consider this lake sacred and bring offerings here to the God Shiva during the Mahashivratree Festival annually.
#30. The other is Mont Le Morne Brabant. A popular climb for its breathtaking views, this mountain was a place of sanctuary for escaped slaves known as maroons during the 18th and early 19th centuries. It is one of the wildest and most preserved mountains in the country. Check out our hiking tour at le morne brabant
Rich in scenic beauty with clear turquoise waters and white beaches, it makes Mauritius one of the most sought destinations for holidays and honeymoons. Visitors from all over the globe travel here to enjoy all this island has to offer. This trivia can also help you to plan a vacation to Mauritius, as you would know which beaches and sites to go see too.