The Story Behind Underwater Fall In Mauritius
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
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The "underwater waterfall" off the coast of Mauritius is an optical illusion caused by strong ocean currents
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It's not water cascading down, but rather sand and silt being shifted off the shelf by the ocean currents
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The illusion occurs along the shores of Le Morne Brabant on the southwestern coast of Mauritius
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This cascading sand creates the appearance of a waterfall beneath the ocean surface
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Instead of an underwater waterfall, it's more of an underwater sandfall
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Mauritius and its surrounding islands were formed by volcanic activity, resulting in a shallow submarine shelf that plunges to depths of over 4,000 meters
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The strong currents propel sand and silt deposits off the shelf's edge, creating a "sandfall" that appears like a waterfall
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The illusion is best viewed from above where the contrast between the shallow, light-coloured water and the deeper, darker water exaggerates the effect
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