Geography of Mauritius

Mauritius
Nickname: The Star and Key of the Indian Ocean
Location of Mauritius
Geography
LocationIndian Ocean
Coordinates20°17′S 57°33′E / 20.283°S 57.550°E / -20.283; 57.550
ArchipelagoMascarene Islands
Area2,011 km2 (776 sq mi)
Highest elevation828 m (2717 ft)
Highest pointPiton de la Petite Rivière Noire
Administration
Largest settlementPort Louis (pop. 147,688)
Demographics
Population1,264,866 (2007)
Pop. density616/km2 (1595/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsIndo-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.