40 Facts About Mauritius

While most people are familiar with Mauritius, the Republic of Mauritius also includes the islands of Rodrigues, Agalega, St. Brandon, and two more disputed territories.

These islands were formed from lava spewed out by underwater volcanoes only 9 million years ago.

Mauritius' entire island is only 2040 km2, making it the world's 170th largest nation. In fact, the island is only 45 kilometres wide and 65 kilometres long.

Mauritius is surrounded in all four directions by a ring of dormant volcanoes, streams, waterfalls, and rivers.

Mauritius has the highest Human Development Index (HDI) in Africa, according to the United Nations Development Program.

Dina Arobi was the name given to the island by Arab sailors when it was discovered in 975. Several centuries later, when the Dutch Squadron landed at Grand Port in 1598, it was named Mauritius in honour of Prince Maurice Van Nassau, stadtholder of the Dutch Republic.

Mauritius has been colonised by three nations over the years: the Netherlands (1638-1710), France (1715-1810), and Great Britain (1810-1968). It has been self-sufficient since 1968.

Sugarcane plantations thrived during the French East India Company's rule, making it one of the most important contributors to the economy.

Slaves were primarily employed on these sugarcane plantations. Following the abolition of slavery in 1835, the British brought over more than 500,000 Indian labourers, the descendants of whom now constitute the largest community in Mauritius.

These islands are home to over 1.2 million people, resulting in a high population density (highest in the entire African continent). The island has more women than men, resulting in a very healthy gender ratio.

Almost 90% of the Mauritian population is literate, and the average life expectancy is 75 years.

Mauritius is the only African country where Hinduism is the majority religion.

According to estimates, Mauritians spend more than 700 hours per year participating in religious activities.

The two most widely spoken languages on the island are English and French. Locals communicate in Mauritian Creole, a distinct language derived from French with African influences.

The most popular native music and dance style in Mauritius is Sega music, which has its roots in the slave population. The songs are sung in Creole, and the dancers never let their feet leave the ground while performing.

Because of the island's large Indian population, Bhojpuri is a widely spoken native language among Mauritanians. Bhojpuri music is growing in popularity in Mauritius, thanks to the success of Bhojpuri bands like The Bhojpuri Boys.

Students, people with disabilities, and senior citizens in Mauritius have free access to public transportation!

The national flag of Mauritius is also known as the Four Bands because of the four coloured stripes, each with its own significance: red represents the bloodshed for abolishing slavery and achieving independence, blue represents the vast and mighty Indian Ocean surrounding Mauritius, yellow represents the bright and shining future ahead, and green represents the lush green vegetation on the island.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, also known as Chacha, is to the Mauritian people what Mahatma Gandhi is to the Indians. He was a pivotal figure in Mauritius' liberation struggle and is widely regarded as the country's Father.

In 2017, Mauritius was one of only four countries in the world that had no domestic or international conflicts with other countries, including neighbouring countries.

Mauritius' peaceful environment allows it to exist without the need for a standing army.

"Mauritius was made first, then heaven, and heaven was copied after Mauritius," said legendary American writer Mark Twain.

Ironically, Mauritius' national football team is known as The Dodos, after a bird associated with slumber and lethargy.

Mauritius is thought to be the last known home of the now-extinct flightless Dodo bird. The bird, which was once abundant on the island, became flightless due to a lack of predators and thus remained safe on the ground.

A stuffed dodo at Oxford University Museum of Natural History is said to have inspired world-famous author Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland, one of the most popular children's novels of all time.

The Pink Pigeon, one of the world's rarest birds, lives in Mauritius' lush green forests.

One of Mauritius' most popular tourist destinations is Chamarel's Seven-colored Earth, which consists of dunes of various colours caused by volcanic eruptions that cooled at different rates.

Some of the most skilled wood artisans in the world work in Mauritius' famed model shipbuilding workshops, creating incredibly detailed and intricate miniature replicas of large water vessels.

Mauritius is surrounded by the world's third-largest coral reef network, making it a scuba diver's dream.

Mauritius has won the World's Leading Island Destination Award three times in the last decade.

Mauritius is frequently named the best honeymoon destination in the world. Its breathtaking beach at Trou Aux Biches was named the world's best beach destination in 2011.

Winter horse racing is one of the most well-known and popular sporting events on the island.

Many consider the famous hairpin bend at Baie Du Cap to be one of the best driving destinations on the planet.

Mauritius' La Vanille Nature Park is home to the world's largest collection of captive-bred giant Aldabra tortoises.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, the Southern Hemisphere's oldest botanical garden, is located in Mauritius and is home to a plethora of indigenous and exotic plant species.

Mauritius also has two UNESCO World Heritage sites. The first is Aapravasi Ghat, where the British brought Indian labourers to work on the sugarcane plantations. The name translates as immigration station.

The second World Heritage Site, Mont Le Morne Brabant, was once a haven for slaves fleeing their oppressive masters in the 18th and early 19th centuries. This mountain is a popular trekking destination that offers trekkers once-in-a-lifetime views.

Mauritius' cuisine is a sumptuous fusion of Creole, Indian, French, and Chinese influences. Spices are essential in enhancing the flavour of food, and seafood such as fish, crabs, lobsters, squid, prawns, shrimps, and octopus is very popular throughout the island.

The Grand Bassin Lake, also known as Ganga Talao, is considered the most sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus in Mauritius. A massive statue of Lord Shiva stands beside the lake, and Hindus flock here every year during Maha Shivratri to pay their respects to the Almighty.

Every year, over 1.36 million tourists visit the Mauritius islands.