MAURITIUS

officially Republic Of Mauritius, island country, the central independent island state of the Mascarene group, lying about 500 miles (800 km) east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. It is situated at latitude 2018 S and longitude 5736 E and extends 38 miles (61 km) from north to south and 29 miles (47 km) from east to west. Its outlying territories are Rodrigues Island, lying 344 miles (553 km) eastward, the Cargados Carajos Shoals, 250 miles (402 km) northeastward, and the Agalega Islands, 580 miles (933 km) northward from the main island. The capital is Port Louis. Area 788 square miles (2,040 square km). Pop. (1990) 1,056,827; (1997 est.) 1,143,000.