Mauritius
| Region | Type | Maps & Charts (if available, no international) |
|---|---|---|
| Africa, Indian | Island | Mauritius |
Republic (area; 790 sq miles; 1996 est. pop. 1,133,551), in the SW Indian Ocean, part of the Mascarene Isl. group, c.500 miles E of Madagascar; (cap.) Port Louis. Surrounded by coral reefs. Mauritius was probably visited by Arabs and Malays in the Middle Ages. Port. sailors visited it in the 16th cent. The isl. was occupied by the Dutch (1598-1710) and named after Prince Maurice of Nassau (originally Maurice Isl., later Mauritius). The French settled here in 1722 and called it Ole de France. It became an important way station on the route to India. The British captured the isl. in 1810 and restored the Du. Name.
Sources
Robert A. McCaugheyCompiler
Peter Richards