!Mauritius Mauritius is a country, Region - Eastern Africa, Capital - Port Louis, Population in 2003 - 1,221,000, Population density - 599 per sq km, Surface area - 2,040 sq km, and Currency - Mauritian rupee. It was, formerly, also known as ISLE OF FRANCE. It is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, 550 m. E. of Madagascar, as large as Caithness, with mountains 3000 feet high, a tableland in the centre, and many short streams; the climate is cool in winter, hot in the rainy season, and subject to cyclones; formerly well wooded, the forests have been cut down to make room for sugar, coffee, maize, and rice plantations; sugar is the main export; the population is very mixed; African and Eastern races predominate; descendants of French settlers and Europeans number are also in large numbers. The island was discovered by the Portuguese in 1510, they abandoned it 90 years later; the Dutch held it for 112 years, and abandoned it in turn; occupied by the French in 1721, it was captured by Britain in 1810, and became with some other islands, a crown colony, under a governor and council. It became independent in 1968 and Republic in 1992. PORT LOUIS, its capita is situated on the north-west, which was formerly a British naval coaling station.