Mauritius, officially known as the Republic of Mauritius, is an island country located in the Indian Ocean. It’s an island that has been colonized by the Dutch back in 1598. However, they left in 1710 which allowed the French to take control five years later. Mauritius then became the Isle de France during that time. With what this country has to offer, it’s only natural that it’s been colonized by those countries. Thankfully, this country is now independent and can show the world everything it can offer.
Mauritius Facts
1. Mauritius is a volcanic island.
It’s been found that this country was one of the volcanic islands to have risen through the tides, an interesting fact about Mauritius. Estimates say that this island is more than 7 million years old already. It’s not every day that you get to see a relic from millions of years ago. That’s why this place is considered to be special from the very start.
2. This country has the highest population density in Africa.
Mauritius is a small island but it has a population of 1.2 million people. Although there are other surrounding islands in the country, it can’t be denied that it’s considered to be a crowded place in the continent.
3. The capital city is home to 40% of the country’s population.
With the country being small in size, it’s natural for Port Louis to have a lot of residents. Also, the Port Louis capital city was established by the French East India Company back in 1736. This is just one of the reasons why a lot of people decided to move to the city. Most of the population also has an Indo-Pakistani origin and most of them are descendants of the indentured laborers that were brought in the country after the abolishment of slavery.
4. This is one of the few countries that were named after a person.
A fun fact about Mauritius is that the name of the country was inspired by Prince Maurits van Nassau. When the Dutch landed on the shores of this island, the settlement was named Mauritius which is the Latin version of ‘Maurits’. However, it’s important to note that this island was the first name as Dina Arobi since the first visitors were Arabs. That said, it was the Dutch that introduced the sugar cane plantations and other animals to the island.
5. Mauritius is the only known place where Dodo birds lived.
Dodo birds were first seen on the island when the Dutch first landed on it. Dodos were flightless birds and they had a unique body resembled prehistoric species. However, it’s unfortunate that they are now extinct. A hundred years after the Dutch came to the island, the Dodo’s population declined until it’s gone for good. Records say that the introduction of various animals, including ship rats, to the island caused the entire species to die out. Now, the only memory of Dodo birds is in the form of stone statues and figurines. An interesting fact about Mauritius is that the species is also immortalized by having its likeness in the country’s Coat of Arms.
6. This country does not have an official language.
Oddly enough, it’s not a country that’s limited to speaking Dutch. English is the most common language used by the locals in Mauritius. French is also a preference for many people in the country. Also, about 86% of the entire population speaks Creole which is a patois that’s based on the French language.
7. It is a multiethnic and multireligious country.
In addition to the languages that they have, Mauritius is also known to have varying ethnicity and beliefs. The dominant religion is Hindu, a fun fact about Mauritius. However, there are also a lot of Muslims and Christians in this country. The government also established religious freedom as a constitutional right. That’s why cultures blend in together which can explain the different customs that are present in the country.
8. Mauritius has an underwater ‘waterfall’!
This phenomenon can be seen just off the Le Morne coast. However, this is no more than an illusion that has been proven many times already. The sand and silt underneath on the ocean floor create a runoff that appears to look like a waterfall, an interesting fact about Mauritius. While it’s not a literal waterfall underneath the ocean, the view of it is nonetheless magical.
9. The Le Morn Brabant mountain was a significant location for the slaves.
A lot of people were enslaved when the colonization on the island began. However, many of them went into hiding in the mountain and waited for a long time for their liberation. Unfortunately, most of the slaves who hid in the mountain ended up jumping to their deaths when they feared the news of liberation as another chapter of enslavement. It’s a grim history that shows how much it was needed for slavery to be out of the picture.
10. It’s a country that has not been involved in recent international conflicts.
Tensions between countries are ever-present these days. However, Mauritius has been recognized for its neutrality or being uninvolved with international conflicts, a fun fact about Mauritius. This may also be the reason why this country does not put a lot of effort into maintaining a significant military force.
11. Mauritius is a great place for vacation and honeymoon.
One of the greatest things about this country is its beaches and lush environment. It wasn’t surprising that the Dutch chose to colonize this island. It’s a tropical wonder for every explorer back in the day. Now, it’s a haven for everyone who wants to take a break and enjoy their honeymoon. After all, the beaches in Mauritius are award winners.
Conclusion
This country has seen a lot of things in the past. Sadly, the Dodo birds went extinct due to the irresponsible colonization. Still, Mauritius remains as a great wonderland on earth. Its environment just shows how much of a treasure trove it was. Also, people in this country have a life expectancy of 75 years old on average. That goes to show how this island can be a great place to settle down. Even if you have a different religion, you won’t have to worry about getting along with others. In any case, visiting Mauritius has been a great experience for many tourists and explorers.
I hope that this article on Mauritius facts was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Country Facts Page!
