Origin: Volcanic – about 10 million years old
Geography: South-western Indian Ocean – just below the Tropic of Capricorn
Latitude: 20° south - Longitude 57° east
Area: 1,865 km2
Coastline: 177 km surrounded by coral reefs
Highest Peaks Mountains: Black River Peak (828 m), Pieter Both (823 m), Le Pouce (812 m)
Climate: Tropical, modified by the southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (June to October); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Population: 1,322,000 (2013 estimate)
Ethnic Groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions: Hindu 48%, Christian 32.2%, Muslim 16.6%
Languages: English (official), Creole and French more widely used
