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.

They are no longer volcanically active and the hotspot now rests under Réunion Island. Mauritius is encircled by a broken ring of mountain ranges, varying in height from 300 to 800 metres above sea level.

The land rises from coastal plains to a central plateau where it reaches a height of 670 m; the highest peak is in the south-west, Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire at 828 metres. Streams and rivers speckle the island, many formed in the cracks created by lava flows.

The known history of Mauritius begins with its discovery by Arabs and Malays, followed by Europeans and its appearance on maps in the early 16th century.

Mauritius was successively colonized by the Netherlands, France and Great Britain, and became independent in 12th March 196