Trou aux Cerfs
Trou aux Cerfs is a dormant volcanic crater near Curepipe, Mauritius. Its steep-sided, forested bowl formed during an eruption thousands of years ago.
Maar: A broad volcanic crater formed when rising magma meets groundwater and triggers explosive eruptions. Maar formation offers a comparison for how explosive activity can excavate a crater.
Réunion hotspot: A mantle plume beneath the Indian Ocean that has produced the Réunion and Mauritius volcanic islands. It connects Mauritius's volcanic history to a long-lived source of intraplate volcanism.
Curepipe Botanic Gardens: A public botanical garden in Curepipe, Mauritius, with collections of native and introduced plants. The gardens offer a nearby complement to the crater's urban green space.
Grand Bassin: A volcanic lake in a crater in the highlands of Mauritius, regarded as sacred by many Hindus. It is another prominent crater landscape in Mauritius's central highlands.
Scoria cone: A steep volcanic hill built from loose fragments of basaltic lava ejected around a vent. This common volcanic landform helps explain the cone-and-crater shapes found on Mauritius.
Mauritius: An island country in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, formed largely by volcanic activity. Trou aux Cerfs lies on the central plateau of this volcanic island.
Mauritius tourism: The travel industry built around Mauritius's beaches, landscapes, heritage, and outdoor activities. Trou aux Cerfs is a prominent inland attraction within Mauritius's tourism offering.
Trou Kanaka: A volcanic crater in Mauritius near the village of Bois Chéri. It provides a local comparison with Trou aux Cerfs's crater form.
Basalt: A dark, fine-grained volcanic rock formed when low-silica lava cools at or near Earth's surface. Basalt is the dominant volcanic rock associated with Mauritius's shield volcanoes.
Curepipe: A highland city in central Mauritius, situated near the Trou aux Cerfs crater. The crater sits within the urban area of Curepipe.