Amazing ' 7 coloured earth 'in Mauritius

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amazing 7 coloured earth in Mauritius

Let me introduce you to something amazing, wonderful, something unique in the world, in my island of Mauritius ,which is the 7 coloured earth.It is found at Chamarel,a village in the south-west district of BlackRiver which is well known for its coffee,produced by Societe de la fleche.Let's discover also, the vicinity of Chamarel leading to the '7 coloured earth', which I am sure you will appreciate. A walk which is a must is the one that starts at Curepipe on the central plateau,showing the green area around Bassin,the lake sacred to the Hindu inhabitants in Mauritius.Every year about 300,000 Hindus dressed in white make a pilgrimage to the sacred lake,water from the lake is poured over the head of the god,who according to Hindu tradition,voluntarilly swallowed a fish destined to destroy humanity.An interesting place indeed!. After leaving Bassin, you then go to Plaine Champagne,it is a dream world for anyone wanting to find primitive vegetation,the kind that once covered the whole island from the mountains down to the shore,before colonization took placeThe forests of Machabee and Gorges de la Riviere Noire can be reached from Plaine Champagne,and there one can find twining liane, as well as old tropical trees with strange names;bois de natte, terebinth,tambalocoque.Naturally there are also eucalyptus trees,ebonies and camphors and Trochetia,the national flower. The Gorges here are the last resort for certain bird species which are becoming extinct,birds such as Kestrels or 'chicken eaters',which in reality only feeds on lizards, pond pigeons,large green cateau ouzel chefs,ideal spots for bird lovers.If you want more information,the forest keepers are only willing to help anyone wanting more scientific explanations.Talking about fauna,two legendry birds have to be mentioned ,the dronte or dodo and the solitaire,it's a kinds of large wingless pigeons that lived on Mauritius respectively,man caused their extinction.The dodo used to lay one large egg on a pile of grass on the ground.Due to the vulnerability of its nest and the slow way it walked,the dodo was soon a victim of the early visitors to the island,who ate them in spite of the fact that the meat was tough and not particularly tasty.You can see a perfect reconstruction of the dodo in Port-louis museum. Now to reach the Chamarel Fall from The Gorges, there's a pathway which leads to a place where you can get a wonderful view of the Chamarel Falls ,the water falls into a huge basin surrounded by lush greenery,it takes about 30 to 45 minutes,there and

back,along the path to the falls.Taking the road from the village of case noyale which twists and winds up the mountains slopes like a serpentine trail, among deep forest, you can see the fascinating natural phenomenon,the coloured dunes of chamarel. The view which is offered to you is impressive and breathtaking. The place looks like a bare oval shape with very regular borders.Those with fertile imagination would probably think of a meteorite which had fallen to this place. As Mauritius is of volcanic origin,over the millennia, the rocks were crushed into sands, which have formed an amazing property whereby they settle into 7 distinct layers.In fact if you took a small handful of each of the 7 colours and mix them together, they would eventually separate back into their original formation of layers- amazing isn't? each grain of sand moving back to its own colour!Another incredible thing is that the natural coloured earth never erodes in spite of torrential downpours and adverse climatic conditions- This has never been explained till now. The colours of the dunes are red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow, purple and red are predominant, anyone wishing to see this amazing sight should go early in the morning, preferably when the wheather is good.Morever, specimens may be collected before the powder is dispersed by the wind. However small bottles are on sale,in which these brightly coloured powders have been arranged in attractive patterns. So, if you happen to visit Mauritius, don't miss out this wonderful places which will linger into your memory for a long long time.

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Mauritius - Coloured Earth

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Mauritius What to See & Do Coloured Earth

Coloured Earth of Chamarel is the name given to a strange natural phenomenon where the earth separates naturally into 7 different colours. The different colours, including red, yellow, orange, deep purple and blue, are seen most markedly in the glow of the early-morning sun. The rock seems folded out in thick ripples over a large area at the site, which is cordoned off by the Mauritian tourist authorities. Fascinatingly, the different colours of earth never merge - even when it rains. When the 7 different colours of earth are thoroughly mixed in a test-tube, after a few days they separate into 7 distinct colours again. The colour bands are believed to result from the uneven rates at which the once-molten rock cooled, but no explanation is forthcoming regarding their consistent separation. You can buy various trinkets with test-tube creations of the earth at the entrance to the site, or in Port Louis and Curepipe. There's a children's play area and restaurant at the Coloured Sands, and be sure to see the magnificent waterfall close to the sands that falls nearly 90m to the pool below.

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Mauritius, an island of volcanic origin sheltered by barriers of coral reefs forming natural, safe, crystal clear lagoons, has long been a dream destination. Known to the Arabs as early as the 10th century, but officially explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch in the 17th century. The Dutch were the ones who named the island in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU. Mauritius was occupied successively by the Dutch (1598-1712) and later by the French (1715-1810). The French assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important naval base overseeing the Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars through the Treaty of Paris. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base, and later on, an air station playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence. On 12 March 1968, Mauritius became Independent.

[change] Mauritius Main Tourists Attractions[2]

Mauritius Botanical Garden, also known as Pamplemonsses Garden and SSR Botanical Garden, is one of the most popular tourist attraction in Mauritius, and is located near Port Louis. It is the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere. Black River Gorges National Park is a national park stretching on an area of 6,574 hectares in the hilly southwestern part of Mauritius. It was construction in order to save the natural vegetation of the island and make it one of the most important Mauritius sightseeing. The Black River Gorges National park protects most of the island's remaining rainforest, and is home to many species of wild animals and birds. le aux Cerfs Island, known in English as the deer island is an island near the east coast of Mauritius in the Flacq district. Ile Aux Cerfs is famous for its sandy beaches, beautiful

lagoon and big selection of activities and facilities. In Ile Aux Cerfs you are sure to have a day of relaxation and fun on one of the picture-postcard beaches, and to enjoy a swim and snorkeling in the lagoon. Port Louis is the capital city and main port of Mauritius, Port Louis was constructed in the year 1735 by the noted French governor, Mahe de Labourdonnais. Today Port Louis is the largest city in Mauritius. Port Louis is surrounded by a mountain range, called the Port Louis Moka Range which makes it worth watching. Grand Bassin, known also as Ganga Talao is a lake situated in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, deep in the heart of Mauritius. It is about 600 meters above sea level. The Grand Bassin is a holy lake for Mauritian of Hindu faith. It is said that the water inside the lake communicates with the waters of the holy Ganges of India. Chamarel park - 7 colored earth & Chamarel falls - The seven-coloured earth of Chamarel is a geological curiosity and a major tourist attraction of Mauritius. The landscape at Chamarel is truly unique, it is the only place in world where you can find a clay earth of 7 colors at one place. The colors of these unique dunes are red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow, purple and red are predominant. Trou aux Cerfs is a 605 m high extinct volcano located in Curepipe, Mauritius. The crater has been alternately described as 300 meters in diameter, and is 85 meters deep. Trou aux Cerfs is considered the main attractions of Curepipe. In the center of the crater there is a small lake. Ile aux Aigrettes - Ile aux Aigrettes is a tiny coral island (25 hectares) just off the coast of the town of Mahebourg. The island has been declared a nature conservation site and today is being preserved by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. Owing to the remarkable work accomplished by the Mauritius Wildlife Fund, the island has become an international standard for the protection of natural resources and endangered species. Gabriel Island, known also as lot Gabriel, is located near the Round Island and the Flat island, at the extreme north of Mauritius, about 10 kilometers north of Cap Malheureux. The distance between Gabriel Island and Flat Island is only 750 meters. The size of the island is 42 hectares and the highest point is of 28 meters. Gabriel Island is a protected natural reserve and is most famous for if its beautiful unspoiled beaches. Euroka Creole House - Eureka House is a unique Creole house built in 1830 in a magnificent garden surrounded by waterfalls of Moka River and the Moka Range. Eureka House is reputed to be one of the largest houses on the island, with 109 doors and windows. The Eureka house was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1986. The museum has areas dedicated to music, art, antique maps, Chinese and Indian house wares and quirky contraptions like a colonial-era shower.

[change] Mauritius Cuisine[3]

Mauritius cuisine today - Mauritius is a paradise for the palate and the senses, where the ethnic diversity of the local people is reflected in its cuisine. It is a splendid place to experience real gourmet food. The cuisine of Mauritius, with its variety of flavors and aromas is indeed a gastronomic delight. The products used in the Mauritian cuisine are both local and imported. The meats usually come from Australia, the venison is local, and the fish and seafood are usually caught locally, but may also come from the surrounding islands (such as Seychelles). The cuisine of Mauritius is a testament to the influences of the culinary traditions of France, Africa, Mughlai, India and China which are the best-known and appreciated cuisines in the world, the people of Mauritius have incorporated these influences with their local fruits, vegetables, spices and other ingredients and all those sources have been drawn upon to create a fusion style of cooking. The most basic and common ingredients used in Mauritian recipes are the tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic and chilies, curries and rougailles (rougailles are made from the blends of crushed spices and are served with a number of "achards" - pickles, dals, rice or lentils from an Indian origin). Local spices constitute a major part of Mauritian cuisine. The extensive use of spices such as saffron, curry, garam masala, cinnamon, cardamom, chilies and cloves together with local fruits such as papaya, passion fruit, guava, mango, lychee, banana, pineapple and coconut provides a powerful, yet subtle flavor to the dish. The Mauritian dishes are usually served with rice, lentils and beans which are very popular with the Mauritians and are included in the Mauritian everyday food. The unique mix of spices with vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and sea food gives the unique flavor to the food of Mauritius.

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