How an “underwater waterfall” came to exist on Mauritius
The natural wonders of Mauritius include the spectacular sight of an underwater waterfall. Here’s the science of how it works.
Although most of the land masses on Earth are present in the well-known form of continents, there are a few exceptions to that rule. In a few select locations, even surrounded by ocean waters that can sink to depths of multiple miles or more, land masses emerge, compelled upwards by the eruptive volcanic forces springing forth from Earth’s mantle. These geological hotspots frequently create oceanic islands and/or chains of islands, with some of the more famous ones including the Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, and the Galapagos Islands.
However, a less-widely known set of oceanic islands is found about 2000 miles east of the eastern coast of Africa. Beneath the water’s surface, a submarine plateau persists, known as the Mascarene Plateau. In a few select locations, such as the Seychelles to the north and the Mascarene Islands to the south, the volcanic features have led to the emergence of land masses, poking up above sea level and having been inhabited by humans for centuries. The second largest of the southern islands, Mauritius, is not only one of the most beautiful natural locations on Earth, but also has one…
