Curepipe
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Curepipe is a town (population 81,600 in 2003) centrally situated in Mauritius, an island country in the southwest Indian Ocean. It is second in size and importance to Port Louis, the capital. The name originates from the practice of settlers coming to the town to refill, or "cure" their pipes.
Compared to the rest of the island, Curepipe lies at a higher elevation, often referred to as the "central plateau". Curepipe has the extinct Trou aux Cerfs (Crater of Stags) volcano lying in the middle of the city.
Curepipe is home to the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and the New George V stadium (pictured), which is located in the Forest-Side district of Curepipe and recently hosted events of the 6th Games of the Indian Ocean Islands (Jeux des Iles de L'Ocean Indien, JIOI). The Royal College Curepipe and St. Joseph's College, two of the oldest schools in Mauritius, are located in the centre of Curepipe. There is a Carnegie library established by the Carnegie Foundation in 1917 which is well-known for its manuscript-collection and its collection on Indian Ocean Islands books. It hosts the Curepipe Botanic Gardens, with the rarest palm tree of the world (unique specimen of Hyophorbe amaricaulis).
The road seen in the image is the main one leading through Curepipe from the main motorway (La Vigie), towards the major Jan Palach North and South bus terminals, heading to Phoenix, and back to the motorway towards Port Louis.
Lying on the central plateau, Curepipe has a temperate climate with cool winters and rainy, humid summers. The soil is lush and rich, as testified by the lovely conifer woods surrounding the city. It has beautiful vegetable and flower markets. One can easily mistake this city for an English academic town, as it is home to many schools and tertiary institutions.
The French founded the settlement at the very beginning of the French colonisation of the island, with the cool climate likely reminding them of their native France. A neighboring town is in fact named Nouvelle France, which translantes to New France in English.
Until recently, Curepipe was the primary place of residence for French descendants, with well kept, posh villas and shopping malls. The increasing urban sprawl and better roads and communications may have convinced them to shift base to the scenic western coast.
The town of Curepipe is schedueled to host the 2008 Castel Beer Trophy, which will feature the hosts Mauritius, Tanzania, Mayotte and Réunion. It is to be played from 30 June to 6 July.
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