The Seven Coloured Earths
The Seven Coloured Earths are a geological formation and popular tourist attraction, located on the Chamarel plain. It is a relatively small area of sand dunes comprising sand of seven distinct colors. The fundamental element of the location is that the dunes develop a surrealistic, striped color as these variously colored sands randomly settle at different levels.
Chamarel's Coloured Earths also has a unique feature: the dunes appear to never disintegrate, despite Mauritius' severe tropical rains. Rains have etched magnificent patterns into the slope since the earth was first exposed, producing an effect of earthen meringue.
Since the 1960s, the Chamarel Colored Earth has become one of Mauritius' most popular tourist destinations. The dunes are now surrounded by a wooden fence, and tourists are not permitted to climb them, however, they may see the landscape from observation points around the barrier. Curio shops in the area sell small test tubes filled up with colored earth and you can buy them as a souvenir to present to relatives or friends.
- Location: Rivière Noire District
- Best Time To Visit: Sunrise is the best time to see the Coloured Earths.
