Area comparison map:

almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
177 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Climate:
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
More Climate Details

Terrain:
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Elevation:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Natural resources:
arable land, fish

Land use:
agricultural land: 43.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 38.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 3.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 17.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 38.9% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
190 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
population density is one of the highest in the world; urban cluster are found throught the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; population on Rodrigues Island is spread across the island with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast

Natural hazards:
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues:
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs; soil erosion; wildlife preservation; solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; former home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species