Mascarene Islands facts for kids

Foetidia mauritiana has unique leaves.

This map shows the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean.

The Mascarene Islands (also called Mascarenes) are a group of islands found in the Indian Ocean. They are located to the east of Madagascar.

These islands include Mauritius, Réunion, and Rodrigues. They were named after the Portuguese explorer Pedro Mascarenhas. He was the first European to visit them in April 1512.

How the Islands Were Formed

The Mascarene Islands were created by volcanism. This means they were formed by volcanoes erupting under the sea. This volcanic activity happened because of something called the Réunion hotspot. This hotspot is a very hot spot deep inside the Earth that pushes up magma.

Unique Plants and Animals

The Mascarene Islands are a special ecoregion. This means they have a unique collection of plants (flora) and animals (fauna) that are found nowhere else.

Animals That Are No Longer Here

Sadly, some animals that once lived on these islands are now extinct. Two famous examples are:

• The dodo: This was a large, flightless bird, a type of pigeon, that lived only on Mauritius.
• The Rodrigues solitaire: This was another flightless bird, similar to the dodo, found only on Rodrigues.

The islands also had giant tortoises. Many of these also became extinct.

Animals and Plants Still Here

Even today, the Mascarenes are home to many endemic birds and reptiles. Endemic means they are native to these islands and found nowhere else in the world.

Before humans arrived, these islands were untouched. But now, many people live there. This has unfortunately led to the destruction of the islands' original natural environment.

Who Lives on the Islands Today

Today, the Mascarene Islands have different governments.

• Réunion is a French overseas department. This means it is part of France, even though it's far away.
• Mauritius is an independent country. It calls itself the Republic of Mauritius and governs itself.

Images for kids

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  Piton de la Fournaise is an active volcano on Réunion.

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  Pedro Mascarenhas was a Portuguese explorer. The islands are named after him.

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  This map from 1780 shows Reunion, Mauritius, and Rodrigues.

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  Phyllanthus tenellus is a plant found on the Mascarenes.

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  This shows plants growing high up on Piton de la Fournaise.

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  This is a painting of a dodo from around 1602.

See also

In Spanish: Islas Mascareñas para niños