Mascarene Islands
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 the 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 geologic origin in the volcanism of the Réunion hotspot beneath the Mascarene Plateau and form a distinct ecoregion with a unique flora and fauna.
Native name: Mascareignes | |
|---|---|
Topographic map of Mascarene Islands | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 20.20°S 57.75°E |
| Major islands | Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 2,195,087 |
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.