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General Information
Area: 2040 sq km (788 sq miles).
Population: 1,186,059 (official estimate 2000).
Population Density: 602.4 per sq km.
Capital: Port Louis. Population: 147,131 (1998).
GEOGRAPHY: Mauritius, a volcanic and mountainous island in the Indian Ocean, lies 2000km (1240 miles) off the southeastern coast of Africa, due east of Madagascar. The island-state stands on what was once a land bridge between Asia and Africa called the Mascarene Archipelago. From the coast, the land rises to form a broad fertile plain on which sugar cane flourishes. Some 500km (310 miles) east is Rodrigues Island, while northeast are the Cargados Carajos Shoals and 900km (560 miles) to the north is Agalega.
Government: Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1968. Head of State: President Angidi Chettiar since 2002. Head of Government: Prime Minister Aneerood Jugnauth since 2000.
Language: English is the official language. The most widely spoken languages are French, Creole, Hindi and Bhojpuri. Urdu and Chinese are also among the languages spoken.
Religion: Fifty-one per cent Hindu, 31 per cent Christian, 17 per cent Muslim.
Time: GMT + 4.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-type three-pin plugs are commonly used in hotels.
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 230. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 00. There are a limited number of public telephone booths, mainly at the airport and in major hotels.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 networks, with coverage extending over the whole island. Network operators include Cellplus Mobile Comms (website: www.gocellplus.com) and Emtel (website: www.emtel-ltd.com). Handsets and SIM cards can be hired.
Fax
Most hotels have facilities, as well as Mauritius Telecom offices in Port Louis and Cassis.
Internet
There are a number of ISPs in Mauritius; they include Telecom Plus (website: www.servihoo.com), Mauritius Network (MNS), MauriNet and Mauritius Telecom (website: http://mt.intnet.mu). There are Internet cafes in Phoenix, Vaoas and other main towns. Most hotels offer internet facilities.
Telegram
Messages can be sent from the Mauritius Telecommunications Service offices in Cassis and Port Louis. There are also facilities at Overseas Telecoms Services Ltd, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis.
Post
Airmail to Western Europe usually takes five days; by sea, mail takes four to six weeks. Post office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0815-1115 and 1200-1600, Sat 0800-1145.
Press
Of the nine daily newspapers, two are published in Chinese and the remainder in French and English. L’Express, Le Mauricien and Le Quotidien have the highest circulation.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
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