Islets of Mauritius
Encyclopedia
The Islets of Mauritius includes nearly a hundred tiny islets and rocks scattered around the coast of Mauritius
as well as Rodrigues
.
(French
for deer island) is an island
near the east coast of the island of Mauritius
. Nowadays there are no more deer
on this island, but the island does have a luxury golf course.The only method of access is by ferry from Trou d'Eau Douce or by specific speed boats or catamarans.
The part of the ocean surrounding the islet is rather shallow, so you can walk for more than 100 meters in the ocean and the water won't cover you.
A great number of tourists visit the island every day, especially on weekends. Near the beach there are lots of merchants selling all kinds of Mauritian souvenirs, clothing and handmade accessories.
is an uninhabited islet
22.5 kilometers north of Mauritius
. It has an area of 1.69 square kilometers and a maximum elevation of 280 meters. The island is a nature reserve
under the jurisdiction of the Mauritian Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Rare reptiles that are endemic to Round Island include the Round Island skink
, Round Island day gecko
, and Round Island boa
.
Geographic coordinates: 19.8500370°S 57.7833333°E
is a rocky islet
in the bay
of Grand Port
on the island
of Mauritius
. Between 20–25 August 1810, during the British campaign to capture the island (then called Île de France) from the French
, it was the scene of a long and very hard-fought action between roughly equal forces of French and British frigate
s and, on balance, a defeat for the British, who lost four frigates, though one of these was subsequently recaptured and the French squadron did not survive the British invasion of Mauritius.
. There are remnants of a sugar plantation set up by Dutch settlers. Gunner's Quoin is near Ile Plate, also called "Flat Island".
in French, is located near Round Island, Île aux Serpents and Coin de Mire at the extreme north of Mauritius. It includes Flat Island, which is at risk of submerging, the unvegetated Îlot Gabriel and the tiny Pigeon Rock. There is a graveyard on the island dating back to the 19th century; people suffering from malaria and other diseases were sent to the island by the British to stop the germs from spreading. It also houses one of the two working lighthouses in Mauritius
.
Flat island area harbors an internationally famous dive site called The Shark Pit where divers can witness sharks swirling within the pit for the rich oxygen available due to the crushing waves against the cliffs of Pigeon Rock
, to determine control of Mauritius
.
, there are, despite the name, no snakes on the island; the last indigenous snake species once survived here but became extinct shortly after European arrival. The islet is mountainous with some forest.
Île aux Benitiers includes a large island, with coconut plantations and is permanently inhabited and the smaller Îlot Benitier. The main island is 2 km long and 500m wide lying off of La Gaulette. The islet of Îlot Benitier has been on private lease since 1927 and also supports a small plantation, but is only accessibly for a few months a year. On the northern tip of the main island there are small colonies of migratory birds. Île aux Benitiers is currently under Nubheebucus Family Control.
Harbour. The Caudan Waterfront
incorporates the islet as an anchorage for the many ships that visit the harbour.
. It is thought to have broken away from Île D'ambre.
, is named after the two abandoned coconut plantations it houses. The plantations were set up by the French
, but were abandoned after crops were damaged during a lengthy storm in the 18th century.
harbour. The name comes from the Seychelles islands to the north.
word for cauliflower. It is located on the southern side of the Savanne
district, not far from Souillac
.
government.
, they have since split to form two separate islets. Île aux Tonneliers is the larger of the two, which serves as an anchorage site for ships. The island is covered in shrub. Île Albatross is smaller and unvegetated.
. It is located off the coast of Savanne and is surrounded by an extended reef.
. It is named after the large colony of Land Crab
s on the island.
in the Indian Ocean
. It is surrounded by a coral reef
and is known for its diving
and snorkelling sites.
. It is reputed to be the location of buried treasure
and is a popular destination for tourists.
conquest of Mauritius
.
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
as well as Rodrigues
Rodrigues (island)
Rodrigues , sometimes spelled Rodriguez but named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius...
.
Île aux Cerfs
Île aux CerfsÎle aux Cerfs
Île aux Cerfs is an Island near the east coast of the island of Mauritius. The island consist of a five star hotel with a golf course and has beautiful beaches. Every day mauritians and tourists visit the island, they depart in boats from the village of Trou d'Eau Douce and spend the whole day on...
(French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
for deer island) is an island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
near the east coast of the island of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. Nowadays there are no more deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
on this island, but the island does have a luxury golf course.The only method of access is by ferry from Trou d'Eau Douce or by specific speed boats or catamarans.
The part of the ocean surrounding the islet is rather shallow, so you can walk for more than 100 meters in the ocean and the water won't cover you.
A great number of tourists visit the island every day, especially on weekends. Near the beach there are lots of merchants selling all kinds of Mauritian souvenirs, clothing and handmade accessories.
Round Island
Round IslandRound Island (Mauritius)
Round Island is an uninhabited islet 22.5 kilometers north of Mauritius. It has an area of 1.69 square kilometers and a maximum elevation of 280 meters...
is an uninhabited islet
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
22.5 kilometers north of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. It has an area of 1.69 square kilometers and a maximum elevation of 280 meters. The island is a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
under the jurisdiction of the Mauritian Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Rare reptiles that are endemic to Round Island include the Round Island skink
Round Island skink
The Round Island skink or Telfair's skink , is a species of skink endemic to Round Island . Other members of the genus Leiolopisma occur on New Caledonia and New Zealand but the Round Island skink is closely related to the two extinct Mascarenes taxa, L. mauritiana from Mauritius and L. ceciliae...
, Round Island day gecko
Round Island day gecko
The Round Island day gecko, Phelsuma guentheri, also known as Gunther's Gecko, is a species of gecko. It lives on the islet Round Island , and typically dwells on different palm trees. The Round Island day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.- Description :This lizard belongs to the largest living...
, and Round Island boa
Round Island boa
The Bolyeriidae are a family of snakes native to Mauritius and a few islands around it, especially Round Island. In the past they also occurred on the island of Mauritius, but were extirpated there due to human influence and foraging pigs in particular. These snakes were formerly placed in the...
.
Geographic coordinates: 19.8500370°S 57.7833333°E
Île de la Passe
Île de la PasseÎle de la Passe
Ile de la Passe is a rocky islet in the bay off Grand Port on the island of Mauritius. Between 20–25 August 1810, during the British campaign to capture the island from the French, it was the scene of the Battle of Grand Port...
is a rocky islet
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
in the bay
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
of Grand Port
Grand Port
Grand Port is a district encompassing much of the south-eastern part of the island of Mauritius. Its capital is Rose-Belle but the most important town of the district is Mahebourg...
on the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. Between 20–25 August 1810, during the British campaign to capture the island (then called Île de France) from the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, it was the scene of a long and very hard-fought action between roughly equal forces of French and British frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s and, on balance, a defeat for the British, who lost four frigates, though one of these was subsequently recaptured and the French squadron did not survive the British invasion of Mauritius.
Coin du Mire
Coin du Mire, also called Gunner's Quoin, measures just 65 hectares and lies 8 km north of MauritiusMauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. There are remnants of a sugar plantation set up by Dutch settlers. Gunner's Quoin is near Ile Plate, also called "Flat Island".
Île D'Ambre
Île D'Ambre, or Amber Island, is an islet off the eastern coast of Mauritius. It is relatively large compared to some of the other islets, and it has a number smaller islets of its own, including Île Mounick, Matapan Island and Îlot Canarde. The Forestry Services of the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources is in charge of the islet.Pointe Bernache
Located not too far from Île D'Ambre, Pointe Bernache is a small islet which is popular with tourists as it has a stunning beach on its south coast. The island is surrounded by a lagoon, which is often fished in.Flat Island
Flat island, known as Île PlateÎle Plate
Île Plate, also known as Flat Island, is a small island off the north coast of Mauritius. It is located 11 kilometres north of Cap Malheureux, the mainland's northernmost point. The small nature reserve of Coin de Mire lies between the two islands...
in French, is located near Round Island, Île aux Serpents and Coin de Mire at the extreme north of Mauritius. It includes Flat Island, which is at risk of submerging, the unvegetated Îlot Gabriel and the tiny Pigeon Rock. There is a graveyard on the island dating back to the 19th century; people suffering from malaria and other diseases were sent to the island by the British to stop the germs from spreading. It also houses one of the two working lighthouses in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
Flat island area harbors an internationally famous dive site called The Shark Pit where divers can witness sharks swirling within the pit for the rich oxygen available due to the crushing waves against the cliffs of Pigeon Rock
Grand Port Islets
The Grand Port islets once made up a small volcanic island which has submerged with the rising tide. The islets around Grand Port include Île aux Flamants, Île Vacoas, Île Fouquet, Île aux Fous, Île aux Oiseaux, Rocher des Oiseaux, Île de la Passe (above), Île Marianne, Îlot Chats and Île aux Signes amongst many others. Clashes between the French and English sometimes took place around the islands in the Battle of Grand PortGrand Port
Grand Port is a district encompassing much of the south-eastern part of the island of Mauritius. Its capital is Rose-Belle but the most important town of the district is Mahebourg...
, to determine control of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
Reservoir Islets
The reservoirs of La Ferme and La Mere du Vacoas both have at least one small, land-tied islet within them. In the case of La Ferme (an unnamed islet, but often called Île de la Ferme), there is a small weather station on the islet.Île aux Serpents
Known as Serpent islet in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, there are, despite the name, no snakes on the island; the last indigenous snake species once survived here but became extinct shortly after European arrival. The islet is mountainous with some forest.
Mouchoir Rouge
Mouchoir Rouge, located in the bay of Grand Port, in Mahebourg, has a small guest house which is permanently inhabited. There was once another small islet not far away, but this has sunk in recent years and at low tide emerges as a rock.Île aux Benitiers
Île aux Benitiers includes a large island, with coconut plantations and is permanently inhabited and the smaller Îlot Benitier. The main island is 2 km long and 500m wide lying off of La Gaulette. The islet of Îlot Benitier has been on private lease since 1927 and also supports a small plantation, but is only accessibly for a few months a year. On the northern tip of the main island there are small colonies of migratory birds. Île aux Benitiers is currently under Nubheebucus Family Control.
Îlot du Mort
Known as Dead Man Island by the British, the island is known to be the site of many shipwrecks. It is located off the coast of Rivière du Rempart District.Barkley Island
Barkley island is a small, rocky islet located in the Port LouisPort Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
Harbour. The Caudan Waterfront
Caudan Waterfront
Le Caudan Waterfront is a unique commercial concept in Mauritius, showing undeniable know-how and expertise in commercial activities and entertainment. On top of being a must for shopping, Le Caudan Waterfront is also a business centre, a melting pot for local artists and the favourite meeting...
incorporates the islet as an anchorage for the many ships that visit the harbour.
Île Albatross
Île Albatross is located near Savanne, southern Mauritius. There are thousands of migratory birds on the island and it has been declared a nature reserve.Île Fournaise
A small, once-volcanic islet off the coast of Île D'ambre, this islet was named after the famous volcano on nearby RéunionRéunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
. It is thought to have broken away from Île D'ambre.
Île des deux Cocos
Also known as Île aux deux Cocos, the island, located off the southern coast of Grand PortGrand Port
Grand Port is a district encompassing much of the south-eastern part of the island of Mauritius. Its capital is Rose-Belle but the most important town of the district is Mahebourg...
, is named after the two abandoned coconut plantations it houses. The plantations were set up by the French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, but were abandoned after crops were damaged during a lengthy storm in the 18th century.
Île de L'Est and Île aux Chats
Both of these relatively large islands, lying to the east of Mauritius and considered part of Flacq, become temporarily merged at low tide. The islets are an increasingly popular camping site and there are plans to rebuild a disused lodge on Île de L'Est.Île aux Lubines
This islet is located not too far off from Île aux Chats; it is a nature reserve that can be visited with permission.Île Vacoas
Not to be confused with the Grand Port islet, the Île Vacoas of Flacq was named after the Vacoas (sugarcane in Creole) which was planted by the European arrivals.Îlot Seychelles
Îlot Seychelles is a small islet within the Port LouisPort Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
harbour. The name comes from the Seychelles islands to the north.
Le Souffleur
The small Le Souffler was named after the FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
word for cauliflower. It is located on the southern side of the Savanne
Savanne
Savanne is a district in Mauritius. The capital is Souillac. As of the 2000 census, the district has a population of 66,356 and covers an area of 243 km².The south of Mauritius is one of the most scenic and unspoilt parts of the island...
district, not far from Souillac
Souillac, Mauritius
Souillac is a village close to the southernmost point of the main island of Mauritius. It is the capital of Savanne district. It was named after the Vicomte de Souillac, the island's governor from 1779-1787.-History:...
.
Île Fregate
Named after the uncommon Fregate colony on the island, Île Fregate has been declared a nature reserve by the MauritianMauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
government.
Île aux Tonneliers and Île Albatross
Originally a single peninsula joint to mainland Port LouisPort Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
, they have since split to form two separate islets. Île aux Tonneliers is the larger of the two, which serves as an anchorage site for ships. The island is covered in shrub. Île Albatross is smaller and unvegetated.
Île Sancho
The islet of Île Sancho is relatively new, having as recently as the 1950s been a small sandbank. It is now covered with vegetation and is a stopping point for vessels travelling through the Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. It is located off the coast of Savanne and is surrounded by an extended reef.
Île Roches
Île Roches is located in between Grand Port and Flacq. There is little vegetation and has been of little use since an unsuccessful attempt by the British to plant coconut trees there.Île Crabe
Île Crabe is a small islet off the eastern coast of RodriguesRodrigues (island)
Rodrigues , sometimes spelled Rodriguez but named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius...
. It is named after the large colony of Land Crab
Land crab
Gecarcinidae is a family of true crabs that are adapted for terrestrial existence, commonly known as land crabs. Similar to all other crabs, land crabs possess a series of gills. In addition, the part of the carapace covering the gills is inflated and equipped with blood vessels. These organs...
s on the island.
Île aux Sables and Île aux Cocos
Île aux Sables and Île aux Cocos are two islets off the eastern coast of Rodrigues. Both are nature reserves and home to meteorological stations. They are well-known for their abundant birdlife.Cat Island
Cat Island is a small island lying south of RodriguesRodrigues (island)
Rodrigues , sometimes spelled Rodriguez but named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius...
in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. It is surrounded by a coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
and is known for its diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
and snorkelling sites.
Hermitage Island
Hermitage Island is a small island lying south west of Port Sud-Est in RodriguesRodrigues (island)
Rodrigues , sometimes spelled Rodriguez but named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius...
. It is reputed to be the location of buried treasure
Buried treasure
A buried treasure is an important part of the popular beliefs surrounding pirates and Old West outlaws. According to popular conception, criminals and others often buried their stolen fortunes in remote places, intending to return for them later, often with the use of treasure maps.-Pirate...
and is a popular destination for tourists.
Île aux Fous
A small island lying off the coast of Rodrigues, Île aux Fous is named after the leper colony on the island during the DutchDutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
conquest of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
External links
- http://www.bloosee.com/explore/#lt=-19.879100&ln=57.667923&z=14&m=2&c=111111111111&o=0Flat Island map on BlooseeBlooseeBlooSee is a social network and an ocean web mapping site where sailors, divers, surfers and other sea lovers geotag and share information and knowledge about the oceans. BlooSee is built in Python and uses the Google Maps API.BlooSee is owned by BlooSee, Inc...
.] - Your travel guide to Mauritius