Praslin Island
| Nickname: Ile de Palmes | |
|---|---|
 Praslin Island
|
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Seychelles, Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 4°19′48″S 55°44′48″E / 4.33000°S 55.74667°ECoordinates: 4°19′48″S 55°44′48″E / 4.33000°S 55.74667°E |
| Archipelago | Inner Islands, Seychelles |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Indian Ocean |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Major islands |
|
| Area | 38.52 km2 (14.87 sq mi) |
| Length | 12 km (7.5 mi) |
| Width | 4.6 km (2.86 mi) |
| Coastline | 46 km (28.6 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 367 m (1,204 ft) |
| Highest point | Mont Azore |
| Administration | |
| Group | Inner Islands |
| Sub-Group | Granitic Seychelles |
| Sub-Group | Praslin Islands |
| Districts | Split |
|
Largest settlement
|
Baie Sainte Anne
(population 2500) |
| Demographics | |
| Demonym | Creole |
| Population | 7553 (2014) |
| Ethnic groups | Creole, French, East Africans, Indians. |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| Official website | www |
| ISO Code = SC-07,14 | |
Praslin is the second largest island (38.5 km2) of the 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, is known for the unique coco de mer and vanilla orchids. It has been reported that General Charles George Gordon of Khartoum (1833-1885) was convinced that Vallée de Mai was the Biblical "Garden of Eden".
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 (.193 km2) and Chauve Souris (.007 km2), both of which have hotel accommodations.
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Wikipedia