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Seychelles is an archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean, with over 115 virtually untouched islands. The Portuguese, British, and French all explored the islands, but it was the French who claimed them as their own in the mid-18th century. The Seychelles became largely autonomous in the late 18th century and adopted a neutral stance. The economy was built around coconuts and the islands became relatively prosperous. In the early 20th century, the Seychelles economy suffered from both world wars and the decline in copra prices. The modern political movement arose in the early 1920s, and in 1960 Seychelles declared independence, remaining part of the Commonwealth. The Seychelles is a popular tourist destination with amazing beaches, bird watching opportunities, and coral atolls for diving and snorkelling.
Seychelles is an archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Africa. It covers approximately 176 square miles (451 square km), making it a little more than twice the size of Washington DC. Neighboring islands include the Maldives, Mauritius and Réunion.
Although people undoubtedly knew of the Seychelles before the European discovery, none of them appear to have settled there permanently. It is as if the Arabs already visited them regularly and collected coconut nuts, which they then traded all over the world.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to locate the islands, in the 16th century, but they did not form any settlements. The British later landed on the islands in the 17th century, but also decided not to settle there. The French mapped the islands carefully in the early 18th century, but did not place any permanent structures there. When France and England later went to war, the French finally claimed the islands as their own, in the mid-18th century. In the late 18th century, after the French Revolution, the Seychelles became largely autonomous, governed by a Colonial Assembly. The Seychelles therefore adopted a largely neutral stance, working with the British as they pleased and lending enough lip service to the French to prevent them from interfering.
Seychelles continued to grow during the 19th century. The British enforced a no-slavery policy on the islands, and the islands converted to an economy built around coconuts, becoming relatively prosperous. In the beginning, when the French still had nominal control of the islands, they used it as a place to send troublesome political prisoners. Later, after the British took over, they used it for the same purpose.
In the early 20th century the Seychelles economy suffered from both the world wars and the decline in copra prices. The modern political movement arose in the early 1920s largely to protect the interests of landowners. In the mid-1940s a movement for independence began, and in reaction a movement began to promote closer ties with Britain. In 1960 Seychelles declared independence, remaining part of the Commonwealth. The following year, following a coup, the nation transitioned to a one-party state. This would last until 1976 when the country reverted to a multi-party system.
There are more than 115 islands in the Seychelles archipelago and most of these are virtually untouched tropical paradises. Relatively isolated, unlike similar havens in the Caribbean or the South Pacific, the Seychelles lacks the most developed tourist infrastructure, but neither does the hordes that sometimes descend on other tropical destinations. The beaches and waters of Seychelles are as perfect as anywhere on Earth and remain perfect most of the year. Places like Cousin Island also offer amazing bird watching opportunities and the many coral atolls offer amazing diving and snorkelling. The exotic coco de mer, with its highly erotic fruit, is also found on two islands in the Seychelles and nowhere else on the planet.
Flying to the Seychelles usually involves traveling through a number of cities, eventually passing through Mauritius, Singapore or parts of East Africa. However, direct flights from European countries are starting to appear as the islands become better known as a tourist destination. Cruises frequently call at Victoria, but to date no cruise ship stops there for very long.
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