LANDSCAPE AND CLIMATE
Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean, just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. The nation consists of several islands. The main island of Mauritius is about 1,000 kilometres to the east of Madagascar and occupies an area less than half the size of Prince Edward Island. About 560 kilometres to the northeast is the small island of Rodrigues. The tiny island of Agalega, 1,100 kilometres to the north, and Cargados Carajos (also known as St. Brandon), a group of 22 largely uninhabited islands 370 kilometres to the northeast, are also part of Mauritius. The country's nearest neighbour is the French island of Réunion, which lies 200 kilometres to the west of the main island.

The main island of Mauritius was formed from a volcano that has been extinct for the last 100,000 years. The island is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs. In the centre of the island is a large plateau, varying in elevation from 270 to 730 metres above sea level. The plateau is bordered on the west, south and east by mountains and on the north by a coastal plain. The highest point on the island is the Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire in the southwest, at 826 metres.

The island has a plentiful water supply from its many rivers. Several of these rivers have been dammed to create reservoirs, such as Lake Vacoas in the southwest, or to generate hydroelectricity.

The climate is subtropical. The average temperature ranges from 19°C in the central plateau to 23°C at sea level. December to April are generally hot and humid. June to November are cooler, drier months, although rain falls all year round. Every few years, the island is buffeted by cyclones (violent tropical storms), which usually occur in the hot season.
   Did you know?
The dodo, a large, flightless bird, once lived on Mauritius. It quickly became extinct, killed by the Dutch and the domestic animals they brought with them.
Mauritius was once covered by forest. In the 17th century, the Dutch cut down most of the ebony trees and sold them in Europe. The French in the 18th century and the British in the 19th century destroyed forests of mahogany and many unique species to plant sugar cane and vegetables. Today, parts of the island have been replanted with eucalyptus, casuarinas and various evergreen species. Some of the original species of trees and other plants can still be seen in nature preserves and botanical gardens.

Wild pigs and macaque monkeys live in some of the unpopulated areas. The sambhar deer, introduced by the Dutch, is a protected species. The coral reefs around the island shelter dolphins, turtles, and many other varieties of marine life. Many rare birds live on the islands, including pink pigeons, Mauritian kestrels, Mauritian falcons, the Mascarene paradise flycatcher and the echo parakeet.