As of today, in season, building toward peak (~September 1). Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Off the southwestern tip of Mauritius near Le Morne Peninsula, ocean currents sweep sand and silt sediments over a steep submarine drop-off at the edge of a shallow coastal shelf.
From the air, the trails of pale sediment streaming over the dark 4,000-metre plunge create a convincing optical illusion of an enormous underwater waterfall.
The shelf itself sits only about 150 metres below sea level, but the abrupt transition to abyssal depths generates a dramatic colour gradient -- turquoise shallows fading through emerald and cobalt to near-black -- that gives the moving sediment a three-dimensional, cascading appearance.
The phenomenon is permanent and ongoing, driven by tidal and ocean currents rather than weather, though aerial visibility varies with light angle, water clarity, and sky conditions.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Underwater Waterfall Drop-Off (Aerial Viewpoint) |
| Le Morne Brabant Summit |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.