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Overview
Country Overview
The Seychelles Archipelago occupies 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq miles) of the Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar and contains 115 islands and islets. These fall into two groups of markedly different appearance, stemming from their distinct geologies. Granitic: a dense cluster of 42 islands, unique in being the only mid-ocean group in the world with a granite rock formation. Their lush green vegetation is tropical in character. Indigenous forest exists on the higher slopes. Coralline: isolated coral outcrops speckling a vast area of the Indian Ocean to the southwest of the granitic group. They rise only a few feet above sea level but are covered with rich and dense vegetation. Aldabra, the largest atoll in the world, contains one-third of all Seychellois land and is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Mahé: Surrounded by coral reefs, this is the largest of the islands, and houses the international airport, the port and capital, Victoria. Praslin: The second largest island is two to three hours by boat or 15 minutes by air from Mahé. It is famous for the Vallée de Mai, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site which contains the double-nutted coco-de-mer palm. Local specialities include kat-kat banane, coconut curries and la daube (made from breadfruit, yams, cassavas and bananas).
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