Coral reefs surround most of the coast except the south.
The central plateau is bordered by three mountain ranges giving rise to a landscape of striking beauty. Climate Mauritius enjoys a perenially sunny climate, in general. Background Dutch sailors first visited the island in 1598 and named it Mauritius , after their ruler Prince Maurice de Nassau. The island was inhabited until the 17th century, although it has been visited by the Arabs and later by the Portuguese. The first settlement was attempted by the Dutch in 1638.