20°18S 57°31E, pop (2000e) 159 000. Seaport capital of Mauritius; established, 1735; trade developed until the building of the Suez Canal; handles almost all of the trade of Mauritius; sugar, textiles, clothes, diamond cutting, watches, electrical and electronic equipment, sunglasses; university (1965); two cathedrals.
Port Louis (pronounced locally as paw-louee) is the capital of Mauritius. It is a port on the Indian Ocean, and the nation's largest city and main port. It is located in
the Port Louis District.
History
Port Louis was founded by the French in circa 1735 as a revictualling halt for their ships travelling around the Cape of Good Hope, and was named in honour of King Louis XV.
Geography
The City of Port Louis is located at 20°10' South, 57°31'30" East (-20.1667, 57.525). Port Louis is capital of the District of Port Louis.
Sights
Port Louis has conserved many historic and colonial buildings through years. Port Louis is surrounded by a mountain range, called the Port Louis Moka Range. Other famous spots are the Police Barracks known as Les Casernes and the Port Louis Waterfront.
But the feature that probably strikes the most is the city's skyline which is by far the best in the country. The skyline of Port Louis has completely changed in the last fifteen years mainly due to construction booms in the 1990s and 2000s, where many of the tallest high-rise buildings have been built. The city centre has the tallest buildings in Mauritius, including some skyscrapers.
The Mauritius Institute, dedicated to the study of the island's flora and fauna, is in Port Louis.
Attractions include the Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis Bazaar, the Mauritian Chinatown and the old Port Louis theatre. It is the main entrance to and out of Port Louis.
Port Louis is the busiest city of the country.
The busiest street is probably Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Street, formerly known as Rue Desforges. It leads directly to the Municipality of Port Louis, the Jummah Mosque and Kadafi Square, which is a hot place for local food.
Port Louis also harbours some major schools. The Royal College of Port Louis and the Loreto College of Port Louis are two of the best secondary schools of the country.
Economy
The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. The development of the Caudan Waterfront, central to Port Louis, with shopping and cinema facilities, appeals to tourists visiting the city. Port Louis is the second most important financial centre in Africa after Johannesburg.
Demographics
The population of the city is now largely made up of the descendants of laborers who were hired for labor from India in the 19th century. The Immigration Depot in Port Louis is a World Heritage Site commemorating this great migration.
Currently, the majority of the population, more than 75 percent, are Indians of mixed origins (a significant percentage being followers of the Hindu and Muslim faith), with the rest from Africa and a minority of Chinese and Eurasian.
Coordinates: 20°10′S 57°30′E
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