POLITICAL SYSTEM
According to A2zgov, Mauritius is a parliamentary republic and part of the Commonwealth. Independence from British colonial rule was proclaimed on March 12, 1968, but Mauritius still remained a constitutional monarchy. The Queen of England appointed a governor who ruled the island on her behalf. March 12, 1992 The island was proclaimed a republic. The highest executive power in the country belongs to the prime minister, who is the head of the cabinet; the supreme legislative power is the parliament, whose 60 deputies elect the president. Elections are held every 5 years.
POPULATION
The population of the country is approx. 1.2 million people Mauritius is a densely populated island with a population density of 582 people. per sq. km. In the cities of Port Louis, Curepipe, as well as in Beau Bassin, Rose Hill, Quatre Borne, Vacoa, which have become almost a single agglomeration, half of the island’s population lives. The country has many ethnic minorities, which in turn are divided along religious and caste lines. There is practically no mixing between races and national minorities. The majority of the population (68%) are Indo-Mauritians, Creoles – 27%, the rest – other immigrants from Asia and Europe. In addition, many Chinese live on the island. Thus, all world religions are practiced in Mauritius: Christianity (approx. 30%), Hinduism (more than 50%), Buddhism, Islam.
LANGUAGE
The official language is English (used in official documents), French (the most common), Creole (the language of everyday communication of local residents) does not have a written form. You can also hear Hindi, Urdu, Chinese, etc.
GEOGRAPHY
Mauritius is an island state in the group of the Mascarene Islands, located in the western part of the Indian Ocean, 800 km east of Madagascar. The country consists of the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega and Cargados Carajos. The capital of Mauritius is the city of Port Louis. The relief of Mauritius is sublime. The center of the island occupies an elevated plateau with a number of low mountains (the highest point is the Riviere Noire peak – 828 m). Most of the island is flat, in the north and east it is occupied by crop fields. Along the coast stretches a wide strip of white sandy beaches, indented with small bays. The total area of the country is 2045 sq. km., of which 1865 sq. km. falls on the island of Mauritius, 105.7 sq. km. to the island of Rodrigues.
CLOTHES
To feel comfortable, take light clothing, swimwear, swimming trunks, although shorts, skirts, trousers, T-shirts, Hawaiian shirts, pareos, etc. good quality and at low prices can be bought in numerous shops on the coast or in the markets of the island. Do not forget to bring a windbreaker – at any moment you can be caught off guard by a short but heavy tropical downpour. Be sure to bring sunscreen, goggles and a hat, as well as some sandals so that you don’t injure your feet on sharp pieces of coral or sea urchin needles in the water.
You can not walk in a swimsuit or bare-chested outside the beaches; sunbathing topless or naked on public beaches; buy shells and corals; break corals in the water and take them with you as a souvenir; surf without proper shoes and suit, which can lead to serious injury from sharp corals; swim behind the coral reef, including on a pedalo, kayak and board (waves, reefs and currents can play a cruel joke on you).
You can and should take off your shoes before visiting mosques and Hindu temples. If you are going on a tour, you should dress modestly (no shorts, miniskirts or open dresses) and bring comfortable shoes.
TRANSPORT
The network of bus routes covers almost the entire island. This is the most economical mode of transport, which is also used by the inhabitants of the island, because. cars are expensive.
Finding a taxi is not difficult. There are no meters in cars. For one-time trips over short distances, this is a rather expensive mode of transport, but hiring a taxi for the whole day is much more profitable. It is recommended to bargain until the last minute – this can significantly reduce the price.
You can rent a car in almost all settlements. To do this, you must have an international driving license, driving experience of at least a year and be over 23 years old. It is not recommended to take a car for more than 1 day – the island is so small that there is no need to pay money for longer use. At airport rentals, prices are much higher. Driving on the island is on the left. The speed limit is 50 km/h in the city and 80 km/h outside.
