Editing Mauritius (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Mauritius}}

The total land area of the country is {{convert|2040|km2|abbr=on}}. It is the [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|170th largest nation]] in the world by size. The Republic of Mauritius comprises Mauritius Island and [[Outer Islands of Mauritius|several outlying islands]]. The nation's [[exclusive economic zone]] covers about {{convert|2.3|e6km2|sqmi|abbr=unit}} of the Indian Ocean, including approximately {{convert|400000|km2|abbr=on}} jointly managed with the [[Seychelles]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Mauritius: Promoting the Development of an Ocean Economy|url=https://intercontinentaltrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ITL-Newsletter-Vol-6-Issue-11-Mauritius-Exclusive-Economic-Zone.pdf|url-status=live|magazine=Intercontinental Trust Newsletter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109075149/http://www.intercontinentaltrust.com/admin/documents/all/ITL%20Newsletter%20Vol%206%20Issue%2011%20-%20Mauritius%20Exclusive%20Economic%20Zone.pdf|archive-date=9 November 2013|access-date=25 November 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=National Coast Guard|url=http://police.govmu.org/English/Publication/Documents/NCG2013.pdf|access-date=22 January 2015|website=Government of Mauritius}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) Outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines:Submissions to the Commission: Joint submission by the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles|url=https://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/submissions_files/submission_musc.htm|access-date=22 January 2015|publisher=United Nations}}</ref>

=== Mauritius Island ===
Mauritius is {{convert|2000|km|abbr=on}} off the southeast coast of Africa, between latitudes [[19th parallel south|19°58.8'S]] and [[20th parallel south|20°31.7'S]] and longitudes [[57th meridian east|57°18.0'E]] and [[57th meridian east|57°46.5'E]]. It is {{convert|65|km|abbr=on|round=5}} long and {{convert|45|km|abbr=on|round=5}} wide. Its land area is {{convert|1864.8|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 2008|title=Meteorological Services − Monthly Bulletin of Climatological Summaries|url=http://metservice.intnet.mu/pdfs/monthly-climatological-summaries.pdf|access-date=22 January 2015|publisher=Mauritius Meteorological Services|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=General Info – Geography|url=http://www.mauritius.net/general_info/index.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212061824/http://www.mauritius.net/general_info/index.php|archive-date=12 February 2012|access-date=22 January 2015|publisher=Mauritius.net}}</ref> The island is surrounded by more than {{convert|150|km|4=-2|abbr=on}} of white sandy beaches, and the lagoons are protected from the open sea by the world's third-largest coral reef, which surrounds the island.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tourism − Overview of Mauritius|url=http://tourism.govmu.org/English/Tourism%20sector/Pages/Overview-of-Mauritius.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403131312/http://tourism.govmu.org/English/Tourism%20sector/Pages/Overview-of-Mauritius.aspx|archive-date=3 April 2015|access-date=4 January 2012|website=Government of Mauritius}}</ref> Just off the Mauritian coast lie some 49 uninhabited islands and [[Islets of Mauritius|islets]], several of which have been declared natural reserves for endangered species.

Mauritius Island ([[Mauritian Creole]]: ''Lil Moris''; {{langx|fr|link=no|Île Maurice}}, {{IPA|fr|il moʁis|pron}}) is relatively young geologically, having been created by volcanic activity some 8 million years ago. Together with Saint Brandon, Réunion, and Rodrigues, the island is part of the [[Mascarene Islands]]. These islands emerged as a result of gigantic underwater volcanic eruptions that happened thousands of kilometres to the east of the continental block made up of Africa and Madagascar.<ref name="territory" /> They are no longer volcanically active and the [[Réunion hotspot|hotspot]] now rests under Réunion Island. Mauritius is encircled by a broken ring of mountain ranges, varying in height from {{convert|300|to|800|metres|round=50}} above sea level. The land rises from coastal plains to a central plateau where it reaches a height of {{convert|670|m|abbr=on}}; the highest peak is in the south-west, [[Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire]] at {{convert|828|m|ft|0}}. Streams and rivers speckle the island, many formed in the cracks created by lava flows.
[[File:Mauritius.png|thumb|center|650px|A panoramic view of Mauritius Island]]

=== Rodrigues Island ===
{{Main|Rodrigues}}

The autonomous island of [[Rodrigues]] is located {{convert|560|km|abbr=on}} to the east of Mauritius, with an area {{convert|108|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="territory">{{Cite web|title=The territory of Mauritius|url=http://www.govmu.org/English/ExploreMauritius/Geography-People/Pages/GeographyPeople/Location.aspx|access-date=22 January 2015|website=Government of Mauritius|archive-date=27 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327103512/http://www.govmu.org/English/ExploreMauritius/Geography-People/Pages/GeographyPeople/Location.aspx}}</ref> Rodrigues is a [[volcanic island]] rising from a ridge along the edge of the [[Mascarene Plateau]]. The island is hilly with a central spine culminating in the highest peak, [[Mont Limon]] at {{convert|398|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The island also has a [[coral reef]] and extensive [[limestone]] deposits. According to Statistics Mauritius, at 1 July 2019, the population of the island was estimated at 43,371.<ref name="1 July 2019 Statistics">{{Cite web|title=Population and Vital Statistics Republic of Mauritius, January – June 2019|url=http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/Publications/Documents/2019/EI1471/Pop_Vital_Jan-Jun19.pdf|access-date=12 October 2019|publisher=[[Statistics Mauritius]]}}</ref>

=== Chagos Archipelago ===
{{Main|Chagos Archipelago}}

The Chagos Archipelago is composed of atolls and islands, and is located approximately 2,200 kilometres north-east of the main island of Mauritius. Mauritius claims sovereignty over the archipelago, which forms the [[British Indian Ocean Territory]] and is ''de facto'' controlled by the United Kingdom.

To the north of the Chagos Archipelago are [[Peros Banhos]], the [[Salomon Islands]] and [[Nelsons Island]]; to the south-west are [[Three Brothers, Chagos|The Three Brothers]], [[Eagle Islands]], [[Egmont Islands]] and [[Danger Island, Great Chagos Bank|Danger Island]]. [[Diego Garcia]] is in the south-east of the archipelago.<ref name="PCA Memorial Vol 1">{{Cite book|url=https://pcacases.com/web/sendAttach/1796|title=Memorial of the Republic of Mauritius|date=1 August 2012|publisher=[[Permanent Court of Arbitration]]|volume=I|page=9}}</ref> In 2016, the Chagossian population was estimated at 8,700 in Mauritius, including 483 natives; 350 Chagossians live in the Seychelles, including 75 natives, while 3,000, including 127 natives, live in the UK (the population having grown from the 1200 Chagossians who moved there).<ref name="chif">{{Cite journal|date=5 July 2016|title=La population chagossienne en chiffres|url=https://www.lexpress.mu/article/287013/population-chagossienne-en-chiffres|journal=[[L'Express (Mauritius)]]}}</ref>

=== St. Brandon ===
{{Main|St. Brandon}}

[[St. Brandon]], also known as the Cargados Carajos shoals, is located {{convert|402|km|mi}} northeast of Mauritius Island. Saint Brandon is an archipelago composed of the remnants of the lost micro continent of [[Mauritia (microcontinent)|Mauritia]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dujmovic|first=Jurica|title=What we know about Mauritia, the lost — and now found — continent|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-we-know-about-mauritia-the-lost-and-now-found-continent-2017-02-22|access-date=23 January 2023|website=MarketWatch|language=EN-US}}</ref> and consists of five island groups, with between 28 and 40 islands in total, depending on seasonal storms, cyclones, and related sand movements. In 2008, the [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)]] judgment (Article 71) confirmed [[Raphaël Fishing Company]] as "the holder of a [[Permanent Grant]] of the thirteen islands mentioned in the 1901 Deed (transcribed in Vol TB25 No 342) subject to the conditions therein referred to''"''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Raphael Fishing Company Ltd v. The State of Mauritius & Anor (Mauritius) [2008] UKPC 43 (30 July 2008)|url=http://www.saflii.org/mu/cases/UKPC/2008/43.html|access-date=24 November 2017|website=saflii.org}}</ref> In 2002, St. Brandon was classified in 10th place globally by UNESCO for inclusion as a World Heritage Site well ahead of any other Mauritian candidates at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Proceedings of the World Heritage Marine Biodiversity Workshop, Page 25.|url=https://whc.unesco.org/document/102856|access-date=29 February 2024 |website=sahistory.org.za |page=38 |quote=''B List: 8. Kiunga-Lamu Archipelago (Kenya), opportunity for mixed nomination 9. Pemba Island (Tanzania) 10. Cargados Carajos (Mauritius) 11. Comore Archipelago (Comoros), opportunity for serial nomination with Madagascar 12. Toliara – Nosy Ve (Madagascar), opportunity for serial nomination 13. Zambezi Delta (Mozambique)'' }}</ref>

On 8 May 2024, the [[Saint Brandon Conservation Trust]] was launched internationally at the Corporate Council on Africa in Dallas. Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usafricabizsummit.com/USAfricaBizSummit2024/session/2155018/saving-africa's-rarest-species|title=Saving Africa's Rarest Species at the Corporate Council on Africa|website=usafricabizsummit.com|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> The trust's mission is to protect, restore and conserve St. Brandon.

=== Agaléga Islands ===
{{Main|Agaléga}}

The twin islands of [[Agaléga]] are located some {{convert|1000|km|mi|-2|abbr=off}} to the north of Mauritius.<ref name="territory" /> Its North Island is {{convert|12.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide, while its South Island is {{convert|7|by|4.5|km|abbr=on}}. The total area of both islands is {{convert|26|km2|abbr=on}}. According to Statistics Mauritius, at 1 July 2019, the population of Agaléga and St. Brandon was estimated at 274.<ref name="1 July 2019 Statistics" />

=== Tromelin ===

{{Main|Tromelin Island}}

[[File:Tromelin aerial photograph.JPG|thumb|Aerial view of Tromelin Island]]

[[Tromelin Island]] lies 430&nbsp;km north-west of Mauritius. Mauritius claims sovereignty over Tromelin island, though it is registered as a part of France.

The French took control of Mauritius in 1715, renaming it [[Isle de France (Mauritius)|Isle de France]]. France officially ceded Mauritius including all its dependencies to Britain through the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)|Treaty of Paris]], signed on 30 May 1814 and in which [[Réunion]] was returned to France. The [[British Mauritius|British Colony of Mauritius]] consisted of the main island of Mauritius along with its dependencies [[Rodrigues]], [[Agaléga]], [[St. Brandon]], Tromelin (disputed) and the [[Chagos Archipelago]], while the [[Seychelles]] became a separate colony in 1906. It is disputed whether the transfer of Isle de France (as Mauritius was previously known under French rule) and its dependencies to Britain in 1814 included Tromelin island. Article 8 of the Treaty of Paris stipulate the cession by France to Britain of Isle de France "and its dependencies, namely Rodrigues and the Seychelles". France considers that the sovereignty of Tromelin island was never transferred to Britain. Mauritius's claim is based on the fact that the transfer of Isle de France and its dependencies to Britain in 1814 was general in nature, that it was beyond those called out in the Treaty of Paris, and that all the dependencies of Isle de France were not specifically mentioned in the Treaty. Mauritius's claim is that since Tromelin was a dependency of Isle de France, it was 'de facto' transferred to Britain in 1814. The islands of [[Agaléga]], [[St. Brandon|St Brandon]] and the [[Chagos Archipelago]] were also not specifically mentioned in the Treaty of Paris but became part of the British Colony of Mauritius as they were dependencies of Isle de France at that time. In addition, the British authorities in Mauritius had been taking administrative measures with respect to Tromelin over the years; for instance, British officials granted four guano operating concessions on Tromelin island between 1901 and 1951.<ref name="tromelin"/> In 1959, British officials in Mauritius informed the [[World Meteorological Organization]] that it considered Tromelin to be part of its territory.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Rumley|first1=Dennis|title=Fisheries Exploitation in the Indian Ocean: Threats and Opportunities|last2=Chaturvedi|first2=Sanjay|last3=Sakhuja|first3=Vijay|year=2010|isbn=978-981-230-986-0|page=123|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies }}</ref> A co-management treaty was reached by France and Mauritius in 2010 but has not been ratified.<ref name="diploma">{{Cite web|date=1 April 2020|title=Political relations|url=https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/mauritius/|access-date=25 April 2020|publisher=France Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs}}</ref>