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/ The Guinness Encyclopedia / The Guinness Encyclopedia - Wayzata Technology (3221-1B) (Disc 2) (1995).iso / countrie / 16in_cou.ntr / card_32046.xml < prev    next >
Extensible Markup Language  |  1995-06-13  |  3KB  |  19 lines
  1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
  2. <!DOCTYPE card PUBLIC "-//Apple, Inc.//DTD card V 2.0//EN" "" >
  3. <card>
  4.     <id>32046</id>
  5.     <filler1>0</filler1>
  6.     <cantDelete> <false /> </cantDelete>
  7.     <showPict> <true /> </showPict>
  8.     <dontSearch> <false /> </dontSearch>
  9.     <owner>5472</owner>
  10.     <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet_3106.css" />
  11.     <content>
  12.         <layer>background</layer>
  13.         <id>31</id>
  14.         <text><span class="style42"></span><span class="style12">MAURITIUS</span><span class="style14"></span><span class="style42">Official name:</span><span class="style13"> The Republic of Mauritius</span><span class="style42">Member of: </span><span class="style13">UN, OAU, Commonwealth</span><span class="style42">Area: </span><span class="style13">2040 km2 (788 sq mi)</span><span class="style42">Population: </span><span class="style13">1105000 (1993 est)</span><span class="style42">Capital: </span><span class="style13">Port Louis 143000 (1991 est)</span><span class="style42">Languages: </span><span class="style13">English (official), Creole (French; nearly 30%), Hindi (over 20%), Bhojpuri</span><span class="style42">Religions: </span><span class="style13">Hindu (51%), Roman Catholic (25%), Sunni Islam (17%), with Protestant minorities</span><span class="style42">GOVERNMENT</span><span class="style13">Elections are held by universal adult suffrage every five years for 62 members of the Assembly; up to 8 additional members may be appointed. The President ΓÇô who is elected by the Assembly ΓÇô appoints a Prime Minister who commands a majority in the Assembly. The PM, in turn, appoints a Cabinet responsible to the Assembly.</span><span class="style42">GEOGRAPHY</span><span class="style13">The central plateau of Mauritius is surrounded by mountains, including Piton de la Riviere Noire (826 m / 2711 ft). Other islands in the group include Rodrigues and the Agalega Islands. </span><span class="style42">Climate: </span><span class="style13">The climate is subtropical, although it can be very hot from December to April. Rainfall is high in the uplands.</span><span class="style42">ECONOMY</span><span class="style13">Tourism (the major foreign-currency earner) and the export of sugar cane dominate the economy. Diversification is being encouraged, and the clothing industry is of increasing importance. </span><span class="style42">Currency: </span><span class="style13">Mauritius rupee.</span><span class="style42">HISTORY</span><span class="style13">Known to the Arabs and the Portuguese, the island was settled by the Dutch in 1638. Mauritius was French from 1715 until 1814, when it became British. Black slaves were imported, followed in the 19th century by Indian laborers whose descendants are the majority community. Independence was gained in 1968 and a republic was declared in 1992.</span></text>
  15.     </content>
  16.     <name>Mauritius</name>
  17.     <script></script>
  18. </card>
  19.