![]() The Mauritius Waterfall - Illusion and Reality in One The Mauritius marvel doesn’t result from one source of water colliding and falling into another.ĭespite appearances, the explanation for this underwater waterfall has little to do with water. Here, unlike in the Denmark Strait Cataract, there are no extreme differences in water temperature or density. In Mauritius, however, the plateau quickly plunges to approximately 4,000 meters in depth. Not until some distance from shore does the slope fall off dramatically and give way to the abyss. On most continents, the slope from land into deep ocean waters is gradual. It’s the plateau that makes this underwater waterfall unique, so pay attention. A formation known as the Mascarene Plateau - called an ocean shelf or submarine plateau - lies beneath it. Geologically speaking, at about 8 million years old, the island is a toddler. Just like Hawaii, Mauritius exists because of volcanic activity. Your knowledge and sophistication will impress the natives. Mystery Solved: A Surprising Explanation for the Underwater WaterfallĪllow us a few paragraphs to blind you with science. ![]() In fact, this is a good time to remind you to bring your swimsuit. That’s not what happens here in the warmest ocean in the world. A powerful downflow results, creating a waterfall off the enormous drop in the ocean floor. In that underwater waterfall, the dense, frigid Nordic currents rapidly sink below the lighter, warmer water from western seas. The Denmark Strait Cataract is another example of this extremely rare phenomenon. It appears that the beach, the palm trees, the world-class hotels and the island itself are on the verge of literally going down the drain. The cascade in Mauritius is just that dramatic. ![]() Then, imagine viewing the torrential underwater falls from the riverbank. Imagine a giant hand pushing down Niagara Falls to just below the river’s surface. By all appearances, the water on the ocean’s surface is cascading into the depths. The underwater waterfall is at Le Morne, Mauritius’ southwestern beach. For one thing, the numerous shades of clear blue water take your breath away. There are just a handful of underwater waterfalls in the world, and this one is arguably the loveliest. Yes, there’s plenty to do on land in remote Mauritius, but the underwater waterfall, its real claim to fame, is best seen from the air. They share space with ornate geckos, brilliant butterflies and exotic flowering plants. You missed the long-extinct dodo bird by 350 years, but almost 30 endemic bird species grace the island. The island boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For shoppers, there’s no shortage of boutiques and markets with one-of-a-kind goods.īest of all, though, Mauritius is the ideal place to lose all track of time in nature. Sports fans have their football, horse racing and golf. Sailing, scuba diving and kite surfing are popular pastimes. Ethnic festivals play up the multicultural vibe. “Local” cuisine is decidedly international, featuring Chinese, Indian, Creole and French influences. More than 1.3 million of the world’s most interesting people call Mauritius home. It lies off the southeast coast of Africa around 700 miles east of better-known Madagascar. Mauritius, a remote island in the Indian Ocean, is not exactly a household name. We’ll get to that gorgeous optical illusion, but here’s a bit about the setting. This is a great place to let your eyes deceive you. Thanks to its most famous attraction, Mauritius is one of them. Some places on Earth seem to have more than their fair share of natural beauty. Majestic mountains and lush rain forests are probably nothing new to you - but how many underwater waterfalls have you seen lately? If you’re working through a bucket list of exotic vacations, then you’ve seen vibrant coral reefs, pristine beaches and dreamy lagoons.
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