A large number of reefs within the inner granitic islands of the archipelago of Seychelles could be entirely lost, unless concerted action is taken soon to control crown of thorns, warns Dr. Udo Englhardt, the expert on on the management of crown of thorns in a...
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Mahé Island
Mahé is the largest island of Seychelles. Mahé has an area of 154 sq.km, and is 28 km long, 8 km wide. It is also home to the smallest capital city in the world, Victoria, which accommodates 77,000 people which is 86% of the country’s total population. All visitors to the Seychelles will begin their journey from here.
Morne Seychellois is the tallest peak in this island.
Seychelles International Airport opened here in 1971. In the southern and western parts of the island there are Baie Ternay Marine National Park, Port Launay Marine National Park, and University of Seychelles. The Sainte Anne Marine National Park lies offshore, as do Conception Island, Thérèse Island, Anonyme Island and several smaller islands.
The Port of Victoria is home to a tuna fishing and canning industry. From 1963 to 1996 the United States Air Force maintained a satellite control network here at the Indian Ocean Station, where it had a significant impact on the local economy. Mahé is also home to the Seychelles’ governmental and administrative centre.
The centre of the island has imposing peaks and clouded forests with diverse flora and fauna, giving life to the island’s numerous hiking trails. Countless freshwater springs characterise the rich nature of the island, while tropical palms and other plants also grow throughout this region, including mango, papaya, banana, tea, and more.
Beau Vallon is the best beach in the island, which is almost as bustling as the capital itself. Numerous accommodation options, restaurants, shops, and diving centres can be found in this sprawling bay. Sainte Anne Marine National Park is about 5 km from here. This area offers excellent snorkelling conditions, with a great variety of flora and fauna to be seen, especially in the Sainte Anne Channel, which runs between Sainte Anne Island and Moyenne Island, and, for this reason, this is the destination of many tours.
Aldabra Atoll
The Aldabra is a giant tortoise and is endemic to the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles.
Aldabra atoll comprises four large coral islands which enclose a shallow lagoon; the group of islands is itself surrounded by a coral reef. Due to difficulties of access and the atoll’s isolation, Aldabra has been protected from human influence and thus retains some 152,000 giant tortoises, the world’s largest population of this reptile. Since 1982, the atoll has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The only residents of the atoll are a few researchers, carrying out work on behalf of the Seychelles Islands Foundation. Tourists may only visit the island as part of a cruise day trip and with permission.
This atoll has the largest colony of wild giant tortoises in the world. In total, there are around 150,000 tortoises here. Hawksbill turtles and green sea turtles, both of which live in the ocean, come to the beach to lay their eggs, where they likely encounter the tiny 60 cm coconut crabs.
Abundant bird species, including flamingos, frigate birds, herons, Aldabra white-throated crakes (unable to fly), tropical red-tail birds, sunbirds, ibises, sea-swallows, Aldabra drongos, and many other feathered creatures live and nest here, with 97 endemic species in total. Eight different species of mangroves are found on the island, providing plenty of natural habitat for the birds.
The flying fox is the only native mammal to the archipelago.The Aldabra snail, once thought to have died out, was re-discovered in 2014 during a survey. Besides shrubs and bushes, most of which are no more than three or four metres tall, there are 40 different flowering plants here.
Drift-diving through the channels in the atoll’s lagoon allows one to get up-close and personal with doctor fish, snappers, and mantas, as well as black-tip sharks, dolphins, and manatees.
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