Mauritius is the main island about 1,800 kilometers off Africa’s east coast, near 20 degrees south of the Equator.
The island lies in the southwest Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Published distances vary slightly—many references give roughly 2,000 kilometers from Africa—because the measurement depends on which points on the coast are used and how the distance is rounded.
Mauritius is volcanic in origin and forms part of the Mascarene Islands, alongside Réunion and Rodrigues. Much of its coast is bordered by coral reefs and lagoons, while the interior rises to a central plateau and rugged mountain ranges. Its highest point is Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire, at 828 meters.
The Republic of Mauritius includes the main island of Mauritius plus Rodrigues, Agaléga, and other outlying islands. A common mix-up is treating Mauritius and Madagascar as the same place: Madagascar is the much larger island closer to mainland Africa, while Mauritius lies farther east.