Introduction
The city of Port Louis is the capital and main port of the island country of Mauritius in the western Indian Ocean. A popular vacation and trade destination, it is also the country's largest city. Port Louis is located on the northwestern coast of Mauritius island, between a deepwater harbor and a semicircle of mountains.
Places of interest
The Citadel, an old fortress built in 1838, dominates Port Louis. Built on a hill near the center of the city, the citadel provides the best view of the city. Port Louis has both Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals as well as a mosque. Other places of interest include a natural history museum, an art gallery, and several libraries. The University of Mauritius (founded in 1965) and the Sugar Industry Research Institute (founded in 1953) are both at Réduit, just south of Port Louis.
Economy
As a port city, Port Louis is the country's center for the collection of imports and exports. Sugar accounts for most export revenues. Other economic activities include shipbuilding, textile manufacturing, and food processing.
History
The French founded Port Louis in about 1736. It was named after Louis XV, the king of France. French influence became part of the culture and lifestyle of the city. The port was very useful as a calling place for ships rounding the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa while traveling between Europe and East Asia. The British occupied the island during the Napoleonic Wars (1800–15), which allowed them to gain control of the Indian Ocean. The port became less important after the 1869 opening of the Suez Canal. This waterway enabled ships to travel between Europe and East Asia without sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. When the Suez Canal was closed between 1967 and 1975, activity increased once again at Port Louis. The harbor was modernized in the late 1970s. Population (1999 estimate) 138,530.
