Isolated in the vastness from the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is a green island, bordered of fair and encircled beaches lagoons emerald. The dry hills seem to be stretched under the sun while the fields of cane with sugar undulate under the breeze.
     Long 61 km, broad from 47, Mauritius extends on a surface from 1865 km², that is to say one the third of Corsica. It belongs to the archipelago of Mascareignes which gathers the islands of the Meeting and Rodrigues like several small islands of less importance.
     Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, to 900 km in the east of Madagascar and slightly in the north of the tropic of Capricorn.
     Of volcanic origin it eroded considerably. A broad plate, approximately 600 meters of altitude, occupies its center. At north, the island has a surface punt, dedicated to the culture of the cane with sugar. In the south, the relief, more tormented and more pleasant with the eye, is dominated by the piton of the Black River.

Multicoloured, Mauritius is as much by his landscapes as by his population. Indians of all religious confessions, Chinese, creole or white descendants of the first colonists cotoient themselves and respect themselves most naturally.

     The original fauna of Maurice almost completely disappeared. A number of species, like Dodo, were exterminated by the hunters. The competition of the other animal species introduced by the various occupants of Mauritius was fatal with indigenous fauna.

     The primitive forest concentrated in the south of the island and the throats, like those of Riviére Black. Blue ebony trees, lataniers, wood of bird and wood of plait still live there. In the south, coffee-trees and tea plants are cultivated in terraces.

     To quote all the flowers which push in Mauritius is almost impossible... There are thus several species of hibiscus whose colours vary yellow with the red. From December, them blazing and the bougainvilleas illuminate the landscape. Most beautiful and most odorous is that of the frangipanier; white in the yellow heart, equipped with a perfume suave, it decorates the majority of the gardens.

Known Arab navigators, Dina Robin (the first name of the island) will be really inhabited only towards end the XVII century. XVI century beginning, the Portuguese make stage with Mauritius.

Pero Mascarenhas, which gave its name to the archipelago, baptizes it Ile of the Swans, undoubtedly because of Dodos.

1598: The Dutchmen unload on the island and rename it Mauritius, of the name of the prince of the Netherlands, Maurice de Nassau. Unfortunately they devastate the forests and exterminate the dodo.

1715: The French take possession of it, and baptizes it Isle de France, name which it will keep until 1810 with the arrival of the English.

Mahé of Bourdonnais governor of the Islands of France and Bourbon outlines a harbour infrastructure, Port-Louis of which it makes the capital of it and which it equips with a church, a hospital and fortifications.

Pierre Pepper, intendant of Maurice, melt in the north of Port-Louis the Grapefruit garden.

1810: The English navy is demolished in Vieux Large Port, only naval victory, napoléonienne, over English it is reproduced on the Triumphal arch of Star in Paris. Victoire without a future because the English return in force and take the island by north in Cape Malheureux. France capitulates on December 3. The island takes again the name of Mauritius.

1968: the "father of the Nation" Seewoosagur Ramgoolam obtains independence 12 the Mars 1968. Mauritius remains however member of the Commonwealth.

1992: the Republic is proclaimed. Cassam Uteem is elected president of the republic.

2002: Resignation of president Cassam Uteem and nomination of Karl Offmann.