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Mauritius Facts & Worksheets

Mauritius is an archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean famous for its beaches, lagoons, and reefs

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Mauritius is an archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean famous for its beaches, lagoons, and reefs. Citizens from other countries visit its several tourist attractions.

See the fact file below for more information on Mauritius or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Mauritius worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • The Dutch were the island’s first settlers. The name Mauritius was derived from its governor, Maurice of Nassau.
  • They attempted to settle on the island for the first time between 1638 and 1658, then again from 1664 to 1710.
  • After that, the Dutch abandoned Mauritius, leaving it in the hands of pirates.
  • When the French East India Company took over Mauritius in 1721, it was renamed Île de France. The agreement lasted 40 years.
  • The French crown took over the island in 1767. They brought African slaves to the island of France and established sugar plantations as the primary industry.
  • The island was captured by the British in 1810.
  • The Treaty of Paris of 1814 established British sovereignty.
  • Mauritius was renamed after the renaming of Île de France. The French customs, laws, and language, however, remained.
  • Slavery was abolished in 1835, and Indian indentured laborers were substituted.
  • Mauritius flourished in the 1850s. Many events influenced the progress made by sugar plantations.
  • The decline of the economy was caused by the malaria epidemic (1866-1868), the opening of the Suez Canal (1869), and the Great Depression (1930s).
  • Mauritius gained independence after 1945 when it became its own country.

GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

  • Mauritius is an Indian Ocean island located about 800 kilometers east of Madagascar.
  • Rodrigues Island, Cargados Carajos Shoals, and Agalega Islands are among its territories.
  • It also claims authority over the Chagos Archipelago, which includes Diego Garcia, but this is disputed by the British government.
  • Mauritius is an island that formed as a result of volcanic activity. Coral reefs surround a large portion of the island.
  • Mauritius has two major rivers: the Ground River South East and the Black River. These are operated as a significant source of hydroelectric power.
  • Meanwhile, Lake Vacoas serves as its primary source of water.
  • Sugarcane covers more than half of the country’s land area.
  • Mauritius’ main crop is sugarcane, but vegetables and tea are also grown for local consumption.
  • The climate is maritime subtropical, with fairly consistent temperatures.
  • Its vegetation is made up of 600 indigenous species, and its fauna includes samber, tenrec, and mongoose.
  • Mauritius was also home to the dodo, a flightless bird that became extinct in 1681.

BEACHES OF MAURITIUS

  • Aside from sugar plantations, tourism has also been a great contributor to the economy of Mauritius. The island is somewhat known for its beaches.
  • One of these is the Flic en Flac which is located on the west coast of Mauritius. It was a fishing village a long time ago. 
  • In the 17th century, the Dutch ruled an island known as The Endless Bay. Tourists now visit this area under the name Grand Baie or Grand Bay.
  • Grand Baie’s location is advantageous because it is a convenient starting point for trips to various islands.
  • Arsenal Bay is another historically significant beach. It is located in the northern part of Mauritius.
  • Arsenal village was once a site where the French manufactured cannons and other military supplies until it was destroyed in 1744 by an explosion that killed 300 slaves.
  • Mont Choisy Beach, on the other hand, is known for being Mauritius’ longest beach. It is located in the country’s northern region.

MAURITIANS

  • Mauritians were mostly of Indo-Pakistani origin due to their history. The indentured servitude system brought this about in the nineteenth century.
  • Some portions were Creole (mixed French and African), Chinese, and Franco-Mauritian.
  • Although English is the official language, the majority of the population speaks Creole, a French-based patois.
  • The educational system of Mauritius supports a wide range of language instruction.
  • Religious affiliations include Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.

Mauritius Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Mauritius across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Mauritius which is an archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean famous for its beaches, lagoons, and reefs.

  • Mauritius Worksheets
  • Mauritius Worksheets
  • Mauritius Worksheets
  • Mauritius Worksheets
  • Mauritius Worksheets
  • Mauritius Worksheets

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  1. Mauritius Facts 
  2. Historical Blanks
  3. Slaves of History
  4. Sweet Facts
  5. Mauritian Love Story
  6. Puzzled Map
  7. I-Map-gination
  8. Unique Wildlife
  9. To-Dodo List
  10. People to Places
  11. First to Handle

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Link will appear as Mauritius Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 26, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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