Though it’s a small island, Mauritius is a top tourist destination. It is a beautiful country with gorgeous sandy beaches, mountain ranges, waterfalls, and so much more. It is also home to one of the world’s largest coral reefs. Many tourists describe the island as a paradise because of its breathtaking beauty.
Apart from being a fantastic vacation spot, Mauritius has a rich history and culture. Below you’ll find some awesome facts about the island.
Interesting facts about Mauritius
- It has one of the highest population densities in the world. This is because of its small size relative to its population. The island has just over one million people living in 790 square miles.
- Its national bird is known as the Dodo. It is a flightless bird that was found only on the island. Unfortunately, it is extinct.
- The nation was colonized by the Dutch, the French, and the British. The Dutch arrived in 1638 and left in 1710. The French took over until 1810 when the British took control. It gained independence in 1968. It became a republic in 1992 and is a member of the commonwealth nations.
- The main cash crop of the island is sugarcane. Growth of sugarcane began during the French rule. The British improved the sugarcane sector. As a result, the island was one of the top suppliers of sugar for the British Empire. Today, sugarcane plantations occupy about 80% of the country.
- Its impressive coral reef provides protection from jellyfish, sharks, and attacks from aquatic animals. It also keeps the ocean water around the island at a lower temperature compared to the waters in the high seas.
- It has a unique geological attraction known as the ‘seven colored earth’ found in Chamarel. This is a rare phenomenon, caused by volcanic activity, where the sand is in seven unique colors in a small area that has sand dunes.
- Mauritius is home to people from different ethnic backgrounds. Despite that, there is successful cultural integration. Mauritians are descendants of the French settlers, Indian laborers, Chinese traders, African laborers, and Creoles.
- The nation’s flag was adopted after independence and has four colors. The red color symbolizes the bloodshed during the fight for independence. The blue color is for the ocean. The yellow color is for a bright future and the green color represents the lush vegetation.
You may be surprised to know that most people don’t know whether Mauritius is in Africa or Asia. Well, it happens to be at the intersection of Asia and Africa. This beautiful scenic country is located in the Indian Ocean and is part of Africa’s island nations