Global - Technology - Review

The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius has a diverse culture that reflects both a British and French colonial heritage, together with strong influences from Africa and India. The cuisine, for example, has elements of all these traditions. The main language is Mauritian Creole, though the main newspapers and television channels are in French, and English is the official language. School students have to study an oriental language. The climate is tropical, and there are occasional cyclones. The centre of the island is mountainous and forested. Sugar cane is grown, and some of this is made into Rum. Tourism is being encouraged by a move towards a duty free economy. Mauritius covers about 2,000 square kilometres. The Aapravasi Ghat or Immigration Depot in the capital Port Louis, is where Indian labourers were processed on their arrival in the country. It is now a national monument and World Heritage Site. The Mauritius ‘Penny Red’ postage stamp of 1847 is among the world’s rarest. Examples have fetched millions of dollars. The island is famous as being the home of the flightless dodo, which became extinct in the late 17th Century, though it still appears on the arms of the Republic of Mauritius.