29 Facts About Seychelles

The Seychelles is a 115-island archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa.

It has many beaches, coral reefs, and nature reserves, as well as rare animals like giant Aldabra tortoises.

Victoria, the capital of Mahé, is a hub for visiting the other islands.

It also has the Morne Seychellois National Park's mountain rainforests and beaches like Beau Vallon and Anse Takamaka.

The Seychelles, particularly Anse Forbans (Pirate's Cove) on Mahé and Côte d'Oron Praslin, was once a pirate hideout. It is thought that famous pirate Olivier Levasseur hid a treasure worth more than $160,000 that has yet to be discovered.

Esmeralda, the heaviest land tortoise in the wild, lives on Bird Island and weighs 670 pounds.

Moyenne Island, located in Saint Anne Marine National Park, is said to be haunted by a spirit guarding buried treasure.

The native Coco de mer, also known as the sea coconut or double coconut, yields the world's heaviest (about 15kg) and largest seed.

Victoria, the Seychelles' capital, is the world's smallest and can be explored on foot in less than a day.

In 1958, James Bond author Ian Fleming travelled to the Seychelles in search of adventure and inspiration for his then-current collection of stories, For Your Eyes Only.

Seychelles is home to some of the most endangered bird species, including the bare-legged Scops Owl or Syer. This owl is so rare that it was thought to be extinct until 1959, when it was rediscovered. It can be found on Mahé Island in the Morne Seychellois National Park.

Breadfruit is widely consumed in the Seychelles and can be prepared in a variety of ways, ranging from fried to boiled. According to legend, anyone who eats it while on the islands will return someday.

Many celebrities vacation in the iconic country and enjoy the stunning private islands. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent their honeymoon on the North Island of Seychelles, a location previously chosen by David and Victoria Beckham.

This lovely country island had no inhabitants until the late 18th century, when its first settlers arrived.

National parks and reserves cover nearly half of the country's limited landmass. This is in support of the government's various policies for environmental and ecosystem protection and conservation.

Round Island was formerly a leper colony. A stone prison is still standing today.

When it hosted the Miss World Beauty Pageants in 1997 and 1998, Seychelles received extensive international media coverage, which boosted the country's tourism industry.

The Seychelles is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean made up of 115 islands.

Seychelles' islands are divided into 42 inner granitic islands and 73 outer coralline islands.

English, French, and Creole are the official languages.

Victoria is a producer of vanilla, coconuts, coconut oil, fish, and guano (a fertiliser made from seabird and bat faeces).

Seychellois Rupees can be used to purchase souvenirs.

Tourism and fishing are the two most important foreign exchange earners in the Seychelles.

Nature reserves cover a large portion of the Seychelles.

The Aldabra atoll, the world's second largest atoll, is home to the world's largest population of Giant tortoises.

It is also home to the coconut crab, the world's largest land crab.

Eleven endemic land birds live on Cousin Island, including the Seychelles Magpie-robin (Endangered), Seychelles Sunbird, Seychelles Fody, and Seychelles Blue-pige.

Seychelles is the only UN member whose name has no letters in common with Britain.

Seychelles has competed in every Olympic Games since 1980, with the exception of Seoul 1988, but has never won a medal.