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Geography and Environment of Mauritius
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Mauritius.
Speed
Overview
The Island of Mauritius, volcanic in origin, lies in the southwest Indian Ocean just within the Tropic of Capricorn, 1,250 miles from the African coast and 500 miles east of Madagascar. It is about 40 miles long and 30 miles wide, with an area of 720 square miles. In the center, an extensive plateau rises to 1,900 feet with three mountain ranges bordering the central tableland
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
- Climate
- Mauritius has a maritime climate with slight differences between tropical summer and subtropical winter. Humidity is high, and annual rainfall along the central plateau's western slopes totals nearly 200 inches. In Floreal the winter low can drop to 50°F with high winds and rain, making it seem much colder. The summer daytime high is in the 80s with nighttime temperatures about 10°F cooler. Temperatures in Port Louis and at the beach are about 10°F higher than elsewhere on the island. Rainy and dry seasons are not well defined, and vegetation remains green all year. Cyclones threaten the island between November and April.
- Highest Point
- 828 — Mont Piton 828 m
- Lowest Point
- Indian Ocean 0 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Natural Resources and Hazards
- Natural Resources
- arable land, fish
- Natural Hazards
- cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Environment and Land Use
- Current Environmental Issues
- water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
- International Agreements
- party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements