Its area is equivalent to that of Switzerland. Located off the coast of Mauritius (Indian Ocean), the Saya de Malha shore is home to the largest seagrass meadow in the world. Appeared 35 million years ago, this sandbank is of volcanic origin and composed of basaltic sand. According to the scientific community, the seagrass meadow played a crucial role against global warming by capturing large amounts of carbon dioxide. Deep waters also play a key role for marine species: they are rich in nutrients, which helps feed sperm whales, flying fish and tunas.