About 130 million years ago, the current island of Madagascar separated from the African continent to settle in the Indian Ocean and lay off its other half, India. Due to this division, the African island has one of the most curious and richest natural ecosystems …
The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is one of the most famous on the island and travel to Madagascar, sculpting around the gorges of the Manabolo River an impressive stony forest of huge and pointed calcareous needles, the Tsingy , local word meaning pinnacle. These …
Among the
wildest and most exuberant nature of Chamarel, on Mauritius, is the Land of
Seven Colors. It is a rare phenomenon, large dunes of colors that leave everyone
who contemplates them open-mouthed. This natural curiosity is found in a
protected environment and the relatively small area has become a tourist
attraction. We are going to take a walk through the Land of the Seven Colors in
Chamarel.
Mauritius,
or the Republic of Mauritius, as it is officially known, is an island country
located southwest of the Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers off the eastern
shores of Madagascar.
This
beautiful island is known for its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters,
accompanied by a warm climate throughout the year. It has an abundant
vegetation, product of the torrential rains and its high humidity indexes. The
result is dense tropical forests southwest of the island, specifically, in the
Black River district. There is the plain of Chamarel, and hidden among a great
vegetation we find the Land of the Seven Colors.
Be amazed
with the seven colors
The Land of
the Seven Colors is an extraordinary natural phenomenon. It is a small space
with undulating dunes formed by lands of different colors: violet, greenish,
reddish, bluish, yellow, purple and brown.
The colors
are separated by layers, but the most surprising thing is that if you take dirt
from each color and mix it in a container, it ends up separating back into
layers of colors. Although there have been many scientists who meet in the
place to study the magical phenomenon, they have not yet come up with the
correct thesis of why it happens.
The Land of
the Seven Colors, a protected area
Formerly,
the area was free and locals and visitors could make a little land to take and
admire the impressive phenomenon. But this practice was destroying the land, so
the government declared it a protected environment for its conservation.
The area is
fenced and it is forbidden to walk on it. The good news is that it has
observation posts located along the fences, from which you can admire the
polychrome dunes. The contrast of the colored dunes with the green of the
exuberant vegetation gives you beautiful panoramic views that are hard to
forget. The recommendation is to wait for the sunset, when the colors put on
their best clothes and they look more beautiful and intense.
The
waterfalls of Chamarel
If you were
ashamed of the Land of the Seven Colors, do not miss out on the incredible
waterfalls of Chamarel. They are located a little below the dunes, they feed on
the rivers St. Denis and Viande Salée and have a 100-meter water fall. The best
thing of all is that it has stairs that overlook a superior vantage point. When
you get there, marvel at the view and take some fantastic pictures of the
place.
These
waterfalls are formed by two lava flows from different eras. The oldest one is
between 8 and 10 million years old. The youngest was formed about 3.5 million
years ago.
Refuge of the
Seychelles turtles
Near the
Land of the Seven Colors is the refuge of the huge Seychelles turtles. These
giants are among the first inhabitants of the Mauritius Islands millions of
years ago. These noble animals take 40 years to reach maturity and can live
between 200 and 300 years.
This refuge
competes in the curiosity of the visitors, who choose between the colorful
dunes, the incredible waterfalls and admire the giants of Seychelles.
As any
tourist attraction worth its salt, the Land of the 7 colors has everything
necessary for the visitor: bathrooms, cafeteria and gift shop. Next to the
Chamarel Waterfall you will not find any of this.
Today, the
Land of the 7 colors and the Chamarel waterfall are some of the most important
tourist attractions in Mauritius. They are located on a private lot so your
entrance fee is charged.
Location:
In Chamarel, just in front of Curious Corner and at the entrance of Black River
Gorges National Park