Mauritius is an island state located in the Indian Ocean , off the east coast of Africa , separated by 2,000 km, 900 km east of Madagascar, 3,860 km southeast of India.
The country consists of the islands of Mauritius (the largest), Rodriguez (105.7 sq. Km.), Agalega and Cargados-Carajos and a number of smaller ones. The total area of the country is 2045 square meters. km The capital is Port Louis. Major cities - Maeburg, Rose Hill, Curepipe.
The island of Mauritius is of volcanic origin. However, volcanic activity has long ceased, and erosion greatly smoothed the relief of the island. The central Kyurpip plateau rises 400-600 m above sea level. From the north, west, and south-west, more elevated and less aligned plateaus adjoin it. The highest of them - Savannah (the highest point is the peak of the Riviere Noir , 826 m) - occupies the south-west of the island. Inland plateaus are surrounded by a strip of coastal plains, 15–20 km wide in the south and east. On these plains with fertile alluvial soils, as well as in plateau valleys, sugar cane plantations are concentrated, which occupy 45% of the total area of Mauritius.
The area of the island is 1865 square meters. km 58 km from north to south and 47 km from west to east. The shores are bordered by coral reefs.
The climate is tropical, marine. The island lies on the path of tropical cyclones, originating over the expanses of the Indian Ocean. Almost every year in February-March, they bring down heavy winds on the island, the speed of which reaches 220 km per hour, and torrential rains causing catastrophic floods.
The average water temperature does not fall below 23 ° C all year round. On the coastal plains, 1,500-2,500 mm of precipitation falls annually. On a plateau, the amount of precipitation increases to 3500 mm, and the average temperature drops by 3-4 ° C. Only there, under the cover of mountains, other crops can be planted, in particular tea , tobacco , agave .
The plateau and mountains of Mauritius are cut by hundreds of small rivers, teeming with rapids and waterfalls. The seven-step Tamaren waterfall has the largest spillway (274 meters). The most significant rivers in Mauritius are the Grand River South East and the Grand River North West . During rains, rivers turn into rapid mountain streams. The largest lakes of the island are Gran Bassin and Mar-o-Wacoa . Of the natural sights, the craters of extinct volcanoes (Tru-o-Surf, Kanaka, Bassin Blanc) and the plateau crowned with unusual mountain peaks, sometimes having interesting names, are interesting: for example, within the Riviera Noir plateau are the peaks of Big Finger (Le Pus), Cat and Mouse, Three Nipples.
Intensive exploitation of the island's land resources, combined with population growth, has led to the fact that natural landscapes now occupy less than a quarter of Mauritius. At the same time, they were preserved mainly in the southwestern part of the island, either covered with wild blackthorn, or completely devoid of vegetation and occupied by lilac and red volcanic sands.