Fun facts about Mauritius

12 things you didn't know about the Indian Ocean island

KarienN

7-12-2021

  1. Did you know that the long-extinct Dodo Bird was only known to live in Mauritius? They even still consider it to be their national bird.
  2. Did you know that Mauritius’ famous Dodo Bird is said to have inspired Lewis Carroll to write “Alice in Wonderland” in 1865?
  3. Did you know Mauritius’ checkered past is largely shaped by the iconic Le Morne Brabant mountain? The mountain served as a refuge for escaped slaves of the British in the 18th and 19th centuries, who settled in the mountain’s caves.
  4. Did you know that Mauritius has no official language? While English is the primary language of the government, the French-inspired dialect Creole is even more predominant, spoken by 85.6% of the population.
  5. Did you know that Mauritius is home to two World Heritage Sites? Two of the must-see sites when visiting is the Aapravasi Ghat and Le Morne Brabant mountain, which serve as reminders of the country’s history.
  6. Did you know that Mauritius is a popular beach and honeymoon destination? This gorgeous lush tropical wonderland ranks among the best ocean holidays in the world.
  7. Did you know that the island of Mauritius is surrounded by dormant volcanoes, streams, waterfalls and rivers in all four directions?
  8. Did you know that Mauritius’ renowned model shipbuilding workshops are home to some of the most skilled woodworkers? They create miniature models of large water vessels that are incredibly detailed and intricate.
  9. Did you know that Mauritius’ winter horse race is the island’s most celebrated and highly attended sporting event each year? People come from around the world to watch these races.
  10. Did you know that Mauritius is home to the world’s largest captive-bred collection of giant Aldabra tortoises in the La Vanille Nature Park? The animal’s number stretches into tens of thousands, and visitors can even pet them.
  11. Did you know that Mauritius attracts more than 1.36 million tourists every year? It outnumbers its own population by a considerable margin.
  12. Did you know that it is reported that Mark Twain said: “You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first, and then heaven and that heaven was copied after Mauritius”?

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