Location Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates 20 17 S, 57 33 E

Map references Political Map of the World

Area
total: 2,040 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km

Area - comparative almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 177 km

Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Climate tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Terrain small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Natural resources arable land, fish

Land use
arable land: 49%
permanent crops: 3%
other: 48% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 200 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs

NOTE: The information regarding Mauritius on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mauritius Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mauritius Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.