|
Indian Ocean Islands
The Mascarenes Destination Guide
The islands of Mauritius, La Réunion and Rodrigues form the Mascarene archipelago, the remains of an ancient land mass which once united Asia and Africa. This volcanic, mountainous archipelago remained undiscovered until the end of the 14th century, when it's thought Arab seamen, blown off their trading route, stumbled across the islands.
However, it wasn't until the Dutch established a settlement here in the 17th century that the islands finally became inhabited. These many centuries of isolation resulted in a remarkable flora and fauna unique to the Mascarenes and, although many species, including the Dodo, have since become extinct, some indigenous birds and reptiles can still be found here, while the surrounding waters are home to the Blue, Black and Striped Marlin, the most powerful fish in the Indian Ocean.
Mauritius
Mark Twain was once moved to exclaim that God modelled heaven on Mauritius. Uninhabited until the 17th century, it is today a thriving island of diverse cultures - African, Indian, Chinese and European - a unique racial harmony. The island's ever changing scenery belies its small area. Lofty forested mountain peaks overlook undulating fields of sugar cane, all encompassed by fantastic coastal scenery of powdery white sand beaches and spectacular blue lagoons, rich in marine life. In Port Louis the Pamplemousse Royal Botanical Gardens are noted for 60 different types of palms, including the enormous Talipot Palm, which flowers only once in 100 years and then dies.
La Réunion
Largest of the Mascarenes, La Réunion is an island of dense vegetation with many ancient forest species and environments surviving to the present day. Although it has a number of superb beaches, it is the island's exotic interior that most fascinates the visitor. Dramatic mountains, wide craters, deep gorges and a still active volcano together create an awe-inspiring vista.
|