Native name: Mascareignes | |
|---|---|
 Topographic map of Mascarene Islands | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 20°12′S 57°45′E / 20.20°S 57.75°E |
| Major islands | Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 2,195,087 |
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The Mascarene Islands (English: /mæskəˈriːn/, French: Mascareignes) or Mascarenes or Mascarenhas Archipelago is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar consisting of islands belonging to the Republic of Mauritius as well as the French department of La Réunion. Their name derives from the Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas, who first visited them in April 1512. The islands share a common geological origin beneath the Mascarene Plateau known as the Mauritia microcontinent which was a Precambrian microcontinent situated between India and Madagascar until their separation about 70 million years ago. They form a distinct ecoregion with unique biodiversity and endemism of flora and fauna.