From the ancient Arab sailors discovering the island to the Britishers abolishing slavery. From being covered with coral reefs to hosting an underwater waterfall. And from the flowing of shimmering waterfalls to most extinct species on earth. Mauritius is a dreamy destination for travellers across the world.
No matter if you are a history buff, action or adventure enthusiast, souvenir collector, or an aspiring photographer, there is a lot to explore for you in Mauritius. But this is not all about Mauritius. There are several unique and unknown facts about Mauritius that you may not know. Let's unravel these mysterious facts.
List Of 16 Interesting Facts About Mauritius
- It is not just one island
- Historically, three Nations have colonized Mauritius
- Britishers ended slavery in Mauritius
- High Literacy Rate
- Hindu Dominant Nation
- Bhojpuri is a widespread language
- Mauritius was the home to extinct species
- It has an underwater waterfall
- Free public transport
- Four Bands
- The Dodos
- The Pink Penguin
- Seven-coloured Earth
- Winter horse racing
- UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Religious activities
1. It is not just one island
Many of you know Mauritius as a single island in the Indian Ocean. However, you may be wrong here; Mauritius is not just one island. It is a collection of several islands. In fact, Mauritius has two airports, one of them (Plaine Corail Airport) on Rodriguez Island, which is a part of the Mauritius island. Besides, there are the outer islands of Cargados Carajos Shoals and Agalega Islands.
2. Historically, three Nations have colonized Mauritius
The colonial history of Mauritius is dedicated to three nations. From the 1600s to the middle of the 1900s, The Netherlands, France, and Britain colonized Mauritius. While the Netherlands wasn’t that successful, France and Britain conducted the sugar production business in Mauritius.
Also Read - History of Mauritius
3. Britishers ended slavery in Mauritius
Another historical fact about Mauritius is this: During the French rule, African slaves were brought to manage the sugarcane production in Mauritius. But, when the Britishers came in 1801, they ended slave labour and promoted free labour. This remarkable change was brought by the governor in charge, Robert Townsend Farquhar.
4. High Literacy Rate
The literacy rate is a prime distinguisher of Mauritius. As of 2022, the adult literacy rate was 91.9% among the sub-Saharan African countries.
5. Hindu Dominant Nation
Mauritius is the only African nation that is Hindu-dominant. Over 50% of the country's population is Hindu. The reason for this is the cultural disruption during the British colonization rule, where over a half million labourers were brought from India to work in the country.
Also Read - Famous Food of Mauritius
6. Bhojpuri is a widespread language
To your surprise, Bhojpuri is the most widely spoken language in Mauritius. Thanks to the Indian population of the country, Bhojpuri music is also on the rise and is heard by a sizeable chunk of Mauritians.
7. Mauritius was the home to extinct species
The Dodo is a flightless bird that was first seen by Dutch sailors in 1589. After the first mention, the last mention of this flightless bird was made in 1662. Most of the relics related to this bird, such as partial skeletons, can be seen in museums today.
8. It has an underwater waterfall
Yes, this is one of the most astonishing geographical facts about Mauritius. Mauritius is the home to an underwater waterfall. At first glance, it will look as if the island is being gulped by the water. However, it is an illusion where water currents produce the falling effect while the sand and silt of the surface fall down. The best view of it can be enjoyed from a helicopter.
Also Read - Places to Visit in Mauritius
9. Free public transport
One of the fun facts about Mauritius is that public transport is free for students, people with disabilities, and senior citizens.
10. Four Bands
The Mauritian national flag is known as 4 bands. There are four coloured strips on the flag, and each of them symbolises something unique. The Red band is the symbol of the bloodshed to abolish slavery and gain independence. The deep Blue symbolizes the vast and mighty Indian Ocean surrounding Mauritius. The stunning Yellow signifies the bright and shining future ahead. The Green strip is the symbol of the lush green vegetation of Mauritius.
11. The Dodos
You would be surprised to know that the Mauritian football team is named The Dodos. Ironically, the Dodo is a featherless bird that is related to being slumbered and lethargic.
12. The Pink Penguin
Have you heard of the bird pink penguin? Many of you wouldn’t have heard of it, but it is one of the rarest bird species that is found in the lush green forests of Mauritius. So, if you have a plan to visit Mauritius, try to visit the lush green areas, and if you're lucky, you may discover this bird.
13. Seven-coloured Earth
There are several natural wonders in Mauritius. But the most astonishing one is the seven-coloured Earth. In Chamarel, there are dunes of multiple colours. The reason behind these myriads of colours is the different cooling rates of the volcanic eruptions. The place is a true spectacle to witness.
14. Winter horse racing
If you are in the country or planning to visit Mauritius, do it during the winter. In the winter, you will get to attend the most famous and highly attended sports in Mauritius, the winter horse racing.
Also Read - Things to Do in Mauritius
15. UNESCO World Heritage sites
Mauritius is the home to two unique UNESCO World Heritage sites. The first one is the Aapravasi Ghat, where the Britishers brought labourers from India. The Second World Heritage site is Mont Le Morne Brabant, which was the sanctuary of the slaves.
16. Religious activities
Being a land of diverse cultures and communities, people spend an average of 700 hours per year on religious activities.
Besides the mentioned one, there could be many unknown cultural facts about Mauritius, and you can only know them if you visit the country. So, you focus on packing your bag and let us do the rest.
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