Seven Coloured Earths

Seven Coloured Earths Terres des Sept Couleurs
Sand dunes
The Seven Coloured Earths
Seven Coloured Earths
Coordinates: 20°26′25″S 57°22′24″E / 20.44028°S 57.37333°E / -20.44028; 57.37333

The Seven Coloured Earths are a geological formation and prominent tourist attraction found in the Chamarel plain of the Rivière Noire District in south-western Mauritius. It is owned by a private company and the people of Mauritius don't benefit from the natural made geological feature. It is a relatively small area of sand dunes comprising sand of seven distinct colours (approximately red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow). The main feature of the place is that since these differently coloured sands spontaneously settle in different layers, dunes acquire a surrealistic, striped colouring. Since the earth was first exposed, rains have carved beautiful patterns into the hillside, creating an effect of earthen meringue.