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geography
together
with réunion and rodrigues, mauritius is part of the mascarene
islands. this archipelago was formed in a series of undersea volcanic
eruptions, as the african plate drifted over the réunion hotspot.
mauritius and rodrigues were formed 8-10 million years ago. they are no
longer volcanically active, and the hotspot now rests under réunion.
the island of mauritius itself is formed around a central plateau, with
its highest peak in the southwest, piton de la petite rivière noire
at 828 metres (2,717 ft).
around
the plateau, the original crater can still be distinguished from several
mountains. the local climate is tropical, modified by southeast trade
winds; there is a warm, dry winter from may to november and a hot, wet,
and humid summer from november to may. cyclones affect the country during
november-april.the
island's capital and largest city is port louis, in the northwest. other
important towns are curepipe, vacoas, phoenix, quatre bornes, rose-hill
and beau-bassin.
the
island is well known for its exceptional natural beauty; "you gather
the idea that mauritius was made first and then heaven, and that heaven
was copied after mauritius", as mark twain noted in following the
equato.
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