Mauritius - Location, size, and extent

Mauritius is situated in the Indian Ocean, about 900 km (559 mi) E of Madagascar and 2,000 km (1,250 mi) off the nearest point of the African coast. The island of Rodrigues, an integral part of Mauritius, is located about 560 km (350 mi) off its northeastern coast. The two islands of Agalega lie 1,122 km (697 mi) to the north of Mauritius; also to the north is the St. Brandon Group (Cargados Carajos Shoals). Mauritius has a total area of about 2,040 sq km (7788 sq mi), of which the island of Mauritius occupies 1,860 sq km (720 sq mi); the island of Rodrigues, 110 sq km (42.5 sq mi); and the other offshore islands, 71 sq km (27 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Mauritius is slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington, DC. Mauritius extends 61 km (38 mi) N – S and 47 km (29 mi) E – W , and has a coastline of 177 km (110 mi). The nation also claims Diego Garcia, a British dependency about 1,900 km (1,200 mi) to the northeast, and a French possession, Tromelin Island, about 555 km (345 mi) to the northwest. The OAU has supported Mauritius' claim to Diego Garcia.

The capital city of Mauritius, Port Louis, is located on the island's northwest coast.