Praslin Island
Nickname: Ile de Palmes
Praslin Island is located in Seychelles
Praslin Island
Praslin Island
Geography
LocationSeychelles, Indian Ocean
Coordinates4°19′48″S 55°44′48″E / 4.33000°S 55.74667°E / -4.33000; 55.74667
ArchipelagoInner Islands, Seychelles
Adjacent toSomali Sea, Indian Ocean
Total islands1
Major islands
  • Praslin
Area38.52 km2 (14.87 sq mi)
Length12 km (7.5 mi)
Width4.6 km (2.86 mi)
Coastline46 km (28.6 mi)
Highest elevation367 m (1204 ft)
Highest pointMont Azore
Administration
GroupInner Islands
Sub-GroupGranitic Seychelles
Sub-GroupPraslin Islands
DistrictsSplit
Largest settlementBaie Sainte Anne (pop. 2500)
Demographics
Population7,553 (2014)
Ethnic groupsCreole, French, East Africans, Chinese, Indians.
Additional information
Time zone
ISO codeSC-07,14
Official websiteOfficial Site

Praslin (French pronunciation: [pʁalɛ̃]) is the second largest island (38.5 km2) of the Inner Seychelles, lying 44 km (27 mi) northeast of Mahé. Praslin has a population of around 7,533 people and comprises two administrative districts: Baie Sainte Anne and Grand' Anse. The main settlements are the Baie Ste Anne, Anse Volbert and Grand' Anse.

It was named Isle de Palmes by explorer Lazare Picault in 1744. During that time it was used as a hideaway by pirates and Arab merchants. In 1768 it was renamed Praslin in honor of French diplomat César Gabriel de Choiseul, duc de Praslin.

Praslin is known as a tourist destination with several hotels and resorts, as well as a number of beaches such as Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette.

It has substantial tracts of tropical forests with birds such as the endemic Seychelles bulbul and the Seychelles black parrot. The Vallée de Mai Nature Preserve, established in 1979,[1] is known for the unique coco de mer and vanilla orchids. It has been reported that General Charles George Gordon of Khartoum (1833–1885), an ardent Christian cosmologist, was convinced that Vallée de Mai was the Biblical "Garden of Eden".[2]

Praslin is home to Praslin Island Airport, while surrounding islands include Curieuse Island, La Digue, Cousin Island, Cousine Island and Aride Island. There are a few near offshore islets including Round Island (0.193 km2) and Chauve Souris (0.007 km2), both of which have hotel accommodations.

A large area in the south of the island has been designated as Praslin National Park and surrounding areas Important Bird Area.

See also

References

  1. ↑ reserve info
  2. ↑ Colley, Linda (2 September 2011). "Ghosts of Empire by Kwasi Kwarteng – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
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