Seychelles Island

Seychelles Island situated in the Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar and has a total land area is 456 sq km. The Seychelles consist of an archipelago of over 100 islands and the main islands are Mahé (142 sq km), La Digue (10 sq km) and Praslin (38 sq km). Victoria is the capital located in Mahé about 1600 km off the east coast of Africa. These three main islands are all out of granite, the others are coral atolls.

Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches groups are the other islands included in the territory of the republic. The principal languages spoken in Seychelles are English, French and Seselwa Creol.

History

The Seychelles were uninhabited when the British East India Company arrived on the archipelago in 1609. Thereafter, they became a favorite pirate haven. The French claimed the islands in 1756 and administered them as part of the colony of Mauritius. The British gained control of the islands through the Treaty of Paris (1814) and changed the islands’ name from the French Séchelles to the Anglicized Seychelles. The islands became self-governing in 1975 and independent on June 29, 1976. They have remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The first who visited the island were the Arabs. In 1505 the island appeared on the Portuguese charts, Mahé de Labourdonnais, who was been the French Governor of Mauritius Island, sent in 1742 an expedition to the Seychelles islands. The French took possession of Seychelles islands 1756. From this date until 1903 the Seychelles colony was a dependency of Mauritius, which passed from the French to the British in 1814. In August 1903 Seychelles became a separate British Crown colony.

Flora & Fauna

Seychelles is a living sanctuary for some of the rarest species of flora & fauna on earth. With almost 50% of its limited landmass set aside as national parks and reserves, Seychelles prides itself on its record for far sighted conservation policies that have resulted in an enviable degree of protection for the environment and the varied ecosystems it supports.

Nowhere else on earth will you find unique endemic specimens such as the fabulous Coco-de-mer, the largest seed in the world, the jellyfish tree, with only eight surviving examples, the Seychelles’ paradise flycatcher. From the smallest frog to the heaviest land tortoise and the only flightless bird of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles nurtures an amazing array of endemic species within surrounds of exceptional natural beauty. Large Seychelles fruit bats, the so-called flying fox, are often seen, their impressive 1m wingspan allowing surprising aerial skills and daytime flying displays.

More than 200 plant species have been identified in 16 different habitat zones and a number of endemic invertebrates and reptiles thrive on the island. Seychelles Blue Pigeons and Seychelles Sunbirds, rare or absent in 1997, are now relatively common and together with the Seychelles Kestrel, Seychelles Swiftlet and introduced Seychelles White-Eye comprise the five endemic bird species present. Emerging from the ocean to nest on North Island’s beaches in growing numbers are green and hawksbill turtles.

Culture

The cosmopolitan Seychellois are a colorful blend of peoples of different races, cultures and religions.  At different times in its history, people of African, European and Asian origin have come to Seychelles, bringing with them their distinct traditions and customs and contributing to the way of life and to the vibrant Seychellois culture.

One can see these influences at work throughout the domains of local art, cuisine, music, dance and architecture. The architectural design of some of the grand old houses with their steep roofs are representative of a style adapted for comfortable living in the tropics that displays influences from Seychelles’ French and British colonial heritage. Modern architecture attempts to assimilate traditional styles with practical features designed to capture the island breezes.