Have You Heard of The Underwater Waterfall in Mauritius (The Tropical Island of Mauritius)? Well, be ready to unfold an interesting phenomenon in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean, which is widely regarded as one of the most important ocean shelves globally, is known for various things. This great ocean has it all, ranging from its oil-rich ocean floor to its spectacular marine life.
Nevertheless, there is one such unique geographical wonder that stands out. It is none other than the magnificent Underwater waterfall, or say in the tropical island of Mauritius. This is undoubtedly one of the must-visit places for any travel enthusiast. Before moving on to the main topic of discussion, let us read a little more about the ocean and the country where this great feature lies, and by doing so, we are building up to talk more about the underwater waterfall in greater detail.
The Great Indian Ocean
It is the third-largest ocean in the world among the worldโs five oceanic divisions, and it also tends to be one of the warmest, which is why it is known to have minimal aquatic life. Some of the large and important seas which come under the Indian ocean are the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Laccadive Sea, and the Andaman Sea.
Apart from Mauritius, other famous islands such as Lakshadweep islands, Seychelles, Maldives, and Sri Lanka are located in the Indian ocean. Yet another fascinating trait is the discovery of a submerged continent within this ocean called the Kerguelen plateau, about which various researchers are trying to find out more.
1. Mauritius
Mauritius, officially known as the Republic of Mauritius, is a small tropical island nation east off the coast of the African continent. It is situated on an ocean shelf raised above sea level. Often referred to as the tropical paradise, the country is home to a wide range of mesmerizing beaches. Pereybere Beach, and Flic En Flac beach, are some of the most famous beaches.
The famous Mauritian flying fox is a species of bat which is endemic to Mauritius. The picturesque country has undoubtedly become one of the major tourist hubs over the past few years and has gained so many admirers all over the globe. Now, letโs get started with our topic of interest.
2. Underwater Waterfall in Mauritius
Situated just off the coast of the Le Morne mountain lies this marvelous optical illusion that takes the shape of an underwater waterfall to the human eye. This takes place in the turquoise lagoon. It almost seems like an underwater vortex to the naked eye, which has a depth of about 4000 meters into the abyss. The ocean shelf in the turquoise lagoon, however, is no deeper than 150 meters below sea level.
The young island nation of Mauritius, once famous for the now extinct Dodo bird, as mentioned before, is one of the worldโs most traveled destinations due to its scenic beauty, great marine topography, and obviously, the majestic underwater waterfall. The Le Morne Brabant peninsula is the place to be for any travel enthusiast to get the experience of a lifetime.
3. History
The history of the Le Morne Mountain cultural landscape goes back as long as the 18th and 19th centuries. During this time, slave culture was popular, and hence it is closely related to its history.
Le Morneโs cultural landscape was used as shelter by runaway slaves during that period. Due to its geographical advantages, many settlements within mountains and caves were set up there. Enslaved people traveled from all parts of the world, from Madagascar to India to the African mainland and many more. It is a world heritage site. As a result, the area became a major stopping hub for enslaved people moving from one part of the globe to another, thus inheriting the nickname โMaroon Republic.โ
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4. Optical Illusion
The Le Morne peninsula, located on the southwestern coast of Mauritius, is situated on a plateau formed due to seafloor spreading. Sea floor spreading is a phenomenon that involves the perpetual movement of the tectonic plates, which leads to them splitting apart from each other.
The down pulling effect of water is caused due to a particular angle that the island located on the southwestern coast of Mauritius makes with the waves when they hit the shore. These waves displace sand, and their drawing is the reason for this effect. In conclusion, it is probably right to claim that science has the answer to everything.
5. Perfect Experience
It does not take a genius to figure out a way to get to Mauritius. With flights operating from almost every part of the world, it is quite easy even for a novice traveler to get to a relatively young island country. The national carrier Air Mauritius has turned out to be one of the most preferred airlines by tourists while traveling to or via the country.
To witness this gift of nature with maximum satisfaction, a helicopter ride is the most popular way of doing so. This is because the proper effect cannot be noticed by viewing it from the sea level. Many airlines, including Air Mauritius, offer several deals for this helicopter ride to tourists visiting the area.
After getting on a helicopter, the viewers are treated to the view of the entire island from up top and can distinctly see and enjoy the underwater waterfall effect with ease. This indeed calls for lifelong memories in photos and videos.
6. Scuba Diving
One might be scared of being pulled down just like the water if they ever try to swim anywhere near the waterfall. Well, this is not the case. It has been tried and tested that this particular coast is entirely safe to swim on or even go for a boat ride on.
So, naturally, Le Morne does not just offer a chopper ride over the sea, but it is also open to swimming and ferry trips for visitors. Scuba diving is an excellent attraction for tourists and with good reason because it is an entirely different world underneath the ocean which creates a sense of unique harmony within anyone who wishes to experience this.
So, planning your next holiday cannot be made easier than this. A trip to the mesmerizing island country of Mauritius is right up there with the best destinations across the globe. It will undoubtedly be the adventure of a lifetime! So, have at it. Make some plans, book your tickets, and off you go.
7. FAQs
7.1. Why Is the Mauritius Underwater Waterfall Called Heaven on Earth?
Every individual who has once visited the Mauritius underwater waterfall illusion would agree to it being called heaven on Earth. This is a true example of how powerful yet beautiful nature can be and how it can amaze us in ways we can only imagine. As a matter of fact, the Underwater waterfall not only attracts tourists but is also of great interest to various scientists, environmentalists, and people who take the field of nature seriously because of its little link with science.
It is almost a given guarantee that a trip to Mauritius never fails to disappoint a person, and as a matter of fact, the individual is likely to be more relaxed and happier than before. This is how relaxing nature can be, and it is no secret that all of us deserve these small getaways every once in a while.
7.2. What Are Some Other Nearby Attractions?
The Mauritius underwater waterfall illusion is not the only thing people visit the country for. The Le Morne beach just next to the Le Morne peninsula is another beautifully magical place to visit. The Ganga talao โ Grand Bassin is a site of great spiritual significance. The 108 feet statue of Lord Shiva stands tall looking over the people of Mauritius.
The central market is one of the busiest markets globally and is also one of the oldest. Dating back to as long as when Mauritius was still a colony. Since a major part of Mauritiusโ economy depends upon the income generated from tourism, the locals of all of these areas are very friendly to outsiders, making it a great and comfortable stay. Other countries tourists include in their itineraries are South Africa, Seychelles, etc.
7.3. Are Underwater Waterfalls Real or An Optical Illusion?
The optical illusion! One would naturally think of an actual waterfall upon hearing the word waterfall, water falling from a height to a lower point well above sea level. But this general imagination or optical illusion has been completely contradicted by mother nature in the form of this underwater waterfall, or say illusion.
To make things clear, the flowing water only seems to be flowing in a manner that makes it look like an underwater waterfall. Still, in reality, it is just a mere illusion caused by a vast drain of silt sediment deposits that have fallen and accumulated along its gradual slope. The ocean shelf run is almost full of these silt deposits, making it look even more beautiful. Hence, due to its chemical properties, the flowing water seems to be sucked down by the ocean floor, causing a waterfall effect.
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Edited by Steffy Michael on 5/6/22
Last Updated on by Steffy Michael
