Underwater Waterfall, Mauritius

Underwater Waterfall located at the Southwestern tip of the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean you will find a fascinating illusion. It is caused by the trails of sand on the sea floor being dragged away by water going between the opening in the reefs (La Passe). When viewed from above, the runoff of sand and silt deposits creates the incredibly spectacular impression of an ‘underwater waterfall’. Satellite views are equally dramatic, showing an underwater vortex seemingly appearing off the coast of this tropical paradise. 

Towering high above is Le Morne Brabant, a basaltic monolith with a summit 556 m (1,824 ft) above sea level. The summit covers an area of over 12 hectares (30 acres) and is situated on Le Morne Brabant peninsula. The area (Le Morne Cultural Landscape) is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

waterfall illusion has to do with local sand and silt deposits that flow through the area and fluctuate the color of the water so that it appears like a waterfall heading to who knows where. The sand that contributes to the waterfall illusion is pulled by the currents of the ocean all the way from the higher coastal shelf and down into the deeper waters, located further out to sea. As the sand-infused water passes through this break, the illusion of a waterfall is created.