THIS breath-taking underwater waterfall in Mauritius is actually an optical ILLUSION

MAURITIUS is well known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs; but at one corner of the island there is a breath-taking sight that appears to defy the laws of physics.

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Mauritius: This stunning underwater waterfall is actually an optical illusion

Located in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is a beautiful island that attracts hundreds of British tourists every year.

At the south-west corner of the island lies one of the most stunning natural phenomenons - an underwater waterfall.

However, this spectacular sight is actually one of nature’s optical illusions.

So what exactly is this?

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Mauritius: The island is well-know was its beaches, lagoons and reefs

Mauritius sits upon a Submarine Plateau or Ocean Shelf - a region that rises above the ambient seabed level

Mauritius is one of the younger islands on this planet, formed by volcanic activity under the ocean billions of years ago.

The island now sits upon a Submarine Plateau or Ocean Shelf - a region that rises above the ambient seabed level.

According to an expert on kuoni.co.uk, the shelf, which is the largest in the world, is no deeper than 150 metres below sea level.

However, there is also a so called ‘drop-off’, which is the point past the shelf’s edge.

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Mauritius: The island is sitting on an ocean shelf that is no deeper than 150m below sea level

This plunges to depths of more than 4,000 metres into an unknown abyss.

And the flowing waterfall-like appearance that can only be seen from above, is not actually the water itself falling.

It is, in fact, sand from the Mauritius beaches being forced off the shelf by currents in the ocean.

This underwater waterfall is not the only natural phenomenon that has baffled travellers.

Mauritius - 12 Top Attractions

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Mauritius: The waterfall-like appearance is actually sand being forced off the shelf by currents

Bizarre fairy circles in Nambia have long been one of nature’s mysteries, until now.

Scientists believe they have solved the puzzle once and for all. 

The fairy circles are a series of patches in the desert of Namibia where grass refuses to grow. 

Their round shape and prevalence has prompted many conspiracy theories over the years, from aliens and UFOs to radioactive soil.

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