Le Morne Brabant
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
Le Morne Peninsula | |
| Location | Mauritius |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii), (vi) |
| Reference | 1259bis |
| Inscription | 2008 (32nd Session) |
| Extensions | 2011 |
| Area | 3.496 km2 (863.9 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 24.05 km2 (5,942.9 acres) |
| Coordinates | 20°27′7″S 57°19′42″E / 20.45194°S 57.32833°E |
Le Morne Brabant [lə mɔʁn bʁa.bɑ̃] is a peninsula at the extreme southwestern tip of the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. On it is a basaltic monolith of the same name 556 metres (1,824 ft) high. Its summit covers an area of over 12 hectares (30 acres). There are many caves and overhangs on the steep slopes. It is largely surrounded by a lagoon and is a well known tourist attraction. It is also a refuge for two rare plants, the Mandrinette and the Boucle d'Oreille. The peninsula of Le Morne benefits from a micro-climate. The mountain is named after the Dutch East India Company ship Brabant that ran aground here on 29 December 1783.
UNESCO added Morne Brabant Mountain to the World Heritage List in 2008.
The coast off Le Morne Brabant is often cited as the location of an underwater waterfall.