ways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
17
Telecommunications:
poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay
links, and radio communications stations (improvements being made);
broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; satellite earth stations - 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with six planned

@Mauritania, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National
Police, Presidential Guard
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 467,677; fit for military service 228,385
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 4.2% of GDP (1989)

@Mauritius, Geography

Location:
Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 900 km east of
Madagascar
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,860 sq km
land area:
1,850 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and
Rodrigues
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
177 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims UK-administered Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island
of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory;
claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Climate:
tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to
November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain:
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling
central plateau
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land:
54%
permanent crops:
4%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
31%
other:
7%
Irrigated land:
170 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
water pollution
natural hazards:
subject to cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded
by reefs
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

@Mauritius, People

Population:
1,116,923 (July 1994 est.)
Population growt