Native name: Moris Nickname: The Star and Key of the Indian Ocean | |
|---|---|
 Location of Mauritius | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 20°17′S 57°33′E / 20.283°S 57.550°E |
| Archipelago | Mascarene Islands |
| Area | 2,011 km2 (776 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 828 m (2717 ft) |
| Highest point | Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire |
| Administration | |
| Largest settlement | Port Louis (pop. 147,688) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,264,866 (2007) |
| Pop. density | 616/km2 (1595/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Indo-Mauritian 68%, Mauritian Creole people 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2% |
Mauritius is an island off Africa's southeast coast located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. It is geologically located within the Somali Plate.