After visiting Mauritius that year, Mark Twain wrote in his Journey through the Equator: "I have begun to feel that God first created Mauritius and then created heaven, which is a replica of Mauritius. But at this time, this "paradise homeland" is facing a serious environmental crisis. On 25 July 2020, the Japanese cargo ship Wakashio ran aground in southeastern Mauritius. On August 6, the hull of the cargo ship ruptured, and about 1,000 tons of fuel oil leaked. Scientists say this is the worst ecological disaster in Mauritius, and the negative effects of the oil spill could last for decades.
The Republic of Mauritius is located in eastern Africa, consisting of the island of Mauritius and several subordinate islands, with a coastline of more than 200 kilometers and a total area of more than 2,000 square kilometers, known as the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean".
Mauritius was originally a desert island, first discovered by the Portuguese, and then successively became a colony of the Netherlands, France and Britain - "Mauritius" is named after the Dutch prince Maurice Van Nassau. On 12 March 1968, Mauritius gained independence from British colonial rule.
Mautus was formed by volcanic eruptions and is surrounded by coral reefs. The island has a variety of landforms, with narrow plains along the coast and plateau mountains in the middle. Compared with the Maldives, which faces the ocean, Mauritius has a richer natural and cultural landscape than the Maldives, which also has warm sunshine, stunning sandy beaches and blue waters.
< h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > Mona Mountain</h1>
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line">Le Morne Brabant</h1>
Located in the southwest corner of Mauritius, Mona Brabant Is one of the most photographed landmarks on Mauritius postcards due to its beautiful beaches, hidden waterfalls and azure lagoons. But in the beginning, it was not noticeable by the beauty.
During the occupation of Mauritius, the colonists brought in large numbers of slaves from Madagascar, Mozambique, South India and West Africa, in addition to their own immigrants. Slaves who had survived the heat, plague, and shipwreck faced an even more brutal fate—to do their hardest work or to be trafficked to the American continent. Remote, wooded and surrounded by cliffs, Mona Hills, throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, large numbers of slaves fled here, settled in caves and peaks, and established small communities – Mona Hills became a refuge for the vast number of Mauritian slaves who spared their lives to seek freedom. In 1835, slavery was abolished in Mauritius. When the police went to Mona Hill to tell the good news to the fugitive slaves hiding there, the slaves mistakenly thought that the police were coming to search for them, and resolutely defended their dignity by jumping off a cliff. Today, Mona Hill has become a symbol of the slave emancipation movement, and the Yamashita Memorial Park is home to monuments donated by various countries. Every year on 1 February, Mauritians celebrate the abolition of slavery with concerts and commemorations at Mona Hill. In 2008, the Mona Mountain Cultural Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, Mona Hill is also a punch card for outdoor enthusiasts.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > seven-colored earth scenic spot</h1>
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line">Seven Coloured Earth</h1>
The Seven Colored Earth Scenic Area is located in the town of Shamar in the mountains southwest of Mauritius. "Seven colors" refers to the seven colors of soil, which are caused by the chemical changes of volcanic lava after being illuminated. Every day at sunrise and sunset is the most beautiful time for the scenery. The Charmar Waterfall near the Seven-Colored Earth Scenic Area is also one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Mauritius, with a drop of nearly 100 meters, and is the filming location of the movie "Jurassic Park".
< h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > The Point of Mahler</h1>
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line">Cap Unfortunate</h1>
Cape Mallele is located at the northernmost tip of the island of Mauritius, which means Cape of Doom in French. During the Anglo-French-Mauritian War of 1810, the French surrendered three months after the Cape Malleles were besieged by the British, which the dismal French called Cape of Doom. However, this slightly obscure name has not affected its reputation for beauty, and the blue waters, soft white sand and the hazy island of Gunnaskoyn in the distance make it another tourist attraction in Mauritius.
Cabo de Mallele is also famous for a red-roofed church (Notre Dame Auxiliatrice). The interior of this chapel is simple in structure, simple decoration, history and scale are ranked on the island, but because of its unique red roof, it is called "the most beautiful church in Mauritius". Locals especially like to gather at the churches on this promontory to celebrate Mass, chant hymns, or host weddings. The wedding of movie stars Chen Xiaochun and Ying Cai'er was held here, which also made the popularity of the chapel even higher.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > Black River Canyon National Park</h1>
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line">Black River Gorges National Park</h1>
Located in the western part of the island of Mauritius, Heihe Gorge National Park is the largest national park in Mauritius and a haven for seriously endangered native flora and fauna, including more than 300 native flowering plants and 9 species of birds unique to Mauritius. It was once a gold hunting ground and was declared a protected area in 1994.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > Large Bay</h1>
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line">Grand Baie</h1>
Grand Bay is a harbour town in the north of Mauritius, with a near-circular beach around the sea, the water is exceptionally blue and quiet, enjoying the praise of the most beautiful harbor in Mao Island. Today it is the most popular tourist attraction in Mauritius.
Mauritius has no indigenous population and all Mauritians are descendants of immigrants. When the British occupied Mauritius, a large number of laborers were imported from British India, so the Indians are now the largest ethnic group in Mauritius, and there are many Pakistani people, accounting for more than 68% of the total population of Mauritius, in addition to about 27% of the Creoles (Africans and European-African mixed races), 2.3% are Chinese (the vast majority are Hakka from Meixian County, Guangdong), 1.7% of European descendants, and so on. From colourful markets to vibrant festivals to stately religious buildings, visitors can feel Mauritius' rich multiculturalism and ethnic harmony in Grand Bay.
At sunset, there is no longer the hot sun on the beach, and there are more people on the shore, they are playing in the water, or fishing on the shore, or sitting on the beach chairs reading, or sitting around the trees playing and singing... And that's just the beginning of The Great Bay nightlife. Along the coastline, there are also many discotheques, clubs, bars, billiard halls, waiting for tourists to go to the carnival.
< h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > Tamarin Bay</h1>
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line">Tamarin Bay</h1>
In the west of Mauritius, there is one of the best places in the world to see dolphins , Tamarin Bay. Unlike other countries that go out to sea to see dolphins, in Mauritius you can not only see, but also go to the sea to dance with the waves and dance with dolphins.
Dolphin watching can choose to take a speedboat or catamaran to go to sea in two ways, the speed of the speed boat is fast, can intercept and get close to the dolphin in time, but it is easy to get seasick; the speed of the catamaran is slow, the possibility of catching up with the dolphin is smaller than the speedboat, but the comfort is stronger. After arriving at the viewing area, the captain first let the boat spin around the place where the dolphins may be infested according to experience, and after a while, he saw a group of dolphins whizzing out of the sea, as if greeting the tourists, and then whizzing into the water. At this point, if you're brave enough, jump into the sea to snorkel with the dolphins, or even hold the dolphins for a deep dive. If you happen to visit Mauritius in September, you can also see the spectacular scene of whale migration.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > capital, Port Louis</h1>
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line">Port Louis</h1>
After the French occupied the island of Mauritius in 1715, they renamed it Île-de-France. It wasn't until britain defeated France more than 100 years later that the name of the island was changed back. Located on the northwest coast of Koh Mao, port Louis was founded in 1735 by the French governor Boudonnes and named after King Louis XV of France, and is the political and economic center of the country, the largest city and major port, with developed commerce and shops.
Port Louis is a typical multicultural city with classical European architecture, Muslim mosques, Hindu temples and Chinatowns, but also modern and trendy mansions, many of which have survived the colonial period.
Built in the 1720s and 1730s, the Governor's Palace is now the seat of parliament.
The Adelaide Fort was built between 1834 and 1840 to defend the city during the destabilization caused by the abolitionist slavery.
Port Louis was once listed by the Daily Telegraph as one of the top ten street food cities in the world. The "unofficial" national dish of yellow pea cake (Dholl Puri), the crispy curry triangle (Samoussa) on the outside, the sweet and delicious vermicelli pudding (Poudine Vermicelle), the chili ball (Gateau Piment)... As a melting pot of diverse cultures, Mauritian street food also blends indian, French, Chinese, African, Arab and other eating habits, and the mix-and-match is soaked with the locals' love of food. Snacks can be served with local Phoenix Beer or Pearona, or a glass of rum. Locals often flavor rum with fruits such as lychees, mangoes, coconuts, apples, etc., and it is said that some people season them with chili peppers.
First-time visitors to Port Louis must not miss the Cauden Waterfront. Located next to the port, this mega-mall is home to more than 120 boutiques and specialty shops, ranging from water sports equipment, books and magazines, cosmeceuticals to jewellery, and is also a great place for visitors to buy specialties and souvenirs. Of course, you can also taste the cuisine of the world. There is also a street full of colorful umbrellas, which is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Port Louis.
After the fuel spill, tens of thousands of local residents spontaneously organized to remove oil pollution and save their homes. Although some endangered birds have been successfully transferred, it is difficult to assess the extent of the environmental damage caused by the oil spill. A latest report from an African environmental group points out that this is likely to be one of the most terrible ecological crises the island nation has ever encountered. In addition to the ecological crisis, Mauritius may also suffer an economic crisis as a result. This year's sudden outbreak of the epidemic has dealt a heavy blow to the tourism industry in Mauritius, and now it is suffering from fuel spills, which is like worse. I hope that Mauritius will drain the "black water" as soon as possible and return to heaven.