Environmental ProfileThe island was formed in three distinct phases. The first phase was the emergence of the island from below the sea by massive volcanic eruption. The second and third phases combined high volcanic activity followed by erosion, during which time the northern plains and the northern shelf islets of Gunners Quoin, Flat, Gabriel Islands, Round and Serpent islands were formed. At this time the sea levels were 100 m lower and these northern islets formed part of the northern plain system. GeographyMauritius is 58 km from north to south and 47 km from east to west with an area of 1865 km2. The other island dependencies of Mauritius include:
The topography of the island consists of a central plateau, which rises dramatically to the southwest with the highest point being Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire at 828 m. The central plateau is surrounded by the remnants of the primary volcanic crater system, including the second highest pint of Pieter Both at 823 m (the one with the boulder on top). To the north the island drops and flattens out to form the extensive northern plains extending down the west coast of the island as a coastal plain. The east coast has a very narrow to non-existent coastal plain with relatively steep topography rising from the coast. The longest river on the island is the Grand Riviere Sud-Est which is 34 km from its head waters in the central plateau to where it enters the sea near Ile aux Cerfs. Formation of coral reefs in MauritiusIn Mauritius corals started to grow in shallow waters parallel to the shore resulting in the formation of a fringing reef, covering 150 Km around the coast of Mauritius. In the southeast, at Grand Port/Mahebourg, there is a short stretch of typical barrier reef, while there are no reefs on the south coast. In geological terms a fringing reef is a relatively young reef. Fringing reefs protect the shoreline and the coral and seagrass habitats that develop within the lagoon. Reefs are very complex with different shaped corals forming ecological niches. 36 Genera and 90 species of hard corals have been recorded in the waters of Mauritius. Growth rates of coral colonies vary from 0.5 cm – 7 cm per annum and a football size coral head takes approximately 50 years or more to grow. As the coral colonies grow, the remaining skeletal forms of the organisms consolidate forming coral bedrock that is the foundation of the reef. The growth rate of a reef platform is dependent on environmental factors, but it is generally accepted to be around 1 cm per year. Impacts on the lagoon and coral reefs of MauritiusThe impacts on the lagoons and coral reefs of Mauritius have been chronic and intense, starting 400 hundred years ago with the demise of the native forests, resulting in chronic sedimentation in the lagoons:
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Procurement of long term car rental services under the UNDP Coral Restoration Project |