2. The Republic of Seychelles is a group of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar, with a total area of 455 km ². Belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations History
3. The islands were uninhabited when Arab traders began to arrive. First Europeans to visit were the Portuguese in 1505. While in route to Asia, were occasionally occupied by pirates until the French took possession of the territory in 1756, receiving its current name in honor of the then French finance minister Jean Moreau de Sechelles .
4. The Republic of Seychelles is a group of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar, with a total area of 455 km ². Belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations The United Kingdom controlled the islands between 1794 and 1811, being finally occupied by the British in 1814 after the Napoleonic Wars. They became a separate colony of Mauritius in 1903 and independence was granted in 1976 within the Commonwealth. On June 5, 1977 the attorney France-Albert René, who was prime minister, seized power and became president, a post he kept until April 14, 2004. The 1979 Constitution made the country a one-party socialist republic until 1992. René's successor is the current President James Alix Michel, who was reelected on July 31, 2006
5. The Seychelles had no indigenous population, the current Seychellois are composed of immigrants, mostly of French descent, Africa, India and China. French and English are official languages along with a creole language based on French. Most Seychellois are Christians, mostly Catholics The country's official languages are English and French, a language being used is also known as Seychelles Creole, a dialect derived from French
7. The national flag is the official logo of Seychelles. It was adopted on June 18, 1996. The people of Seychelles said that the oblique bands symbolize a dynamic country constantly moving forward. The blue stripe represents the sea and sky, yellow sun that illuminates the archipelago, the red people and work together towards the future. The white band represents social justice and harmony and green natural surroundings.
8. The original flag was adopted after the country's independence in 1976. In 1977, when President James Mancham was deposed by France-Albert René, the original flag was abandoned and began to use a new one with a red stripe, one white and one green, overlapping like waves. In 1996, he decided to use the current flag
11. The Seychelles' seasons are defined at the beginning and the end of the southeasterly winds that normally blow from May to October. The rest of the year, the islands are visited by the monsoons, with rains, especially in January. It is in Mahé and Silhouette where more rain. January is the wettest month, while July and August are the driest, but every month the temperature fluctuates between 24 ° and 31 ° C, and humidity is around 80%.
12. The best time to go to the Seychelles depends on the purpose of the trip. Those who plan to go windsurfing or sailing, will be in May or October (the months are more wind there is). Some beaches are at their best during the monsoon season (January), and others in May or October. The best months for diving is from March to May and from September to November. During the months of December, January, July and August, prices soar and the hotels are usually full. Informal clothing is recommended for cotton, comfortable shoes, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
14. The Seychelles have the best local food around the Indian Ocean. While fish and rice are the main elements take center stage fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, used with great imagination. However, the variety of seafood is huge, including shark meat.
15. Other typical dishes of the Creole cuisine are the daube, a sweet sauce or stew, the rougaille, consisting of fish or sausage in a sauce made of tomato, the coco carii, fish or tender meat dipped in coconut sauce, fish soaked in lemon and Breda local variety of spinach.
16. According to the Spanish Foreign Ministry, in Seychelles, there is no contagious diseases such as malaria, yellow fever or cholera, which only requires some of these vaccines if it comes from any infected area. Water in Mahe and Praslin gives no problems, but on the other islands it is recommended to drink bottled water HEALTH
18. Two million species of tropical plants are scheduled in the Seychelles, with a hundred of them endemic. One species to highlight is the famous sea coconut (pictured), which coconut is the largest in the world, is also known by the nickname of "coco butt"because of its suggestive shape of the famous endemic y Valle de Mayo de Praslin. Besides this, you can find other species of mangos, yellow and white flowers, apples and trees of patience. The takamaka, now protected, grows in coastal forests. Other species-specific, as nice as varied, are the Malabar almond, the gayac, the burning bush, recognizable by its fruits runs, the flame tree blooming in November, rosewood, very hard, scaeveola frutescens, the pink patatran the white patatran. The mahogany (mahogany) was once very popular in cabinetry. The banyan, with its aerial roots, often grows along roads. The dragon's blood tree, when cut, place a blood-red sap. The flowers, bougainvillea, hibiscus, Egretta, frangipani, and a variety of orchids and flowering vines bloom throughout the year. Reseda flower gives off a delicate perfume of raspberry. Spice trees,-tree, pepper, cloves, cocoa, coffee and vanilla plants produce small crops that can be found in local markets
21. One animal is emblematic of Seychelles giant tortoises, a reptile that lives only in these islands and the Galapagos Islands. In the Bird Island you can admire more than a million and a half of birds that compete with the big famous giant tortoise Esmeralda. giant tortoise
22. Other typical reptiles that abound in the archipelago are the chameleon, small non-venomous snakes and green geckos. It's easy to find bats and centipedes over 30 inches long. But surely the birds are the real treasure of the fauna of the Seychelles.
23. The marine fauna is equally impressive: they have cataloged more than 300 species of fish and 2,500 types of coral. The most abundant species are tuna, barracuda, dorado, sailfish and marlin.
26. Anse Lazio beach It's like a little unreal, when you see pictures like a papier-mache decoration, but "real, " is there. It is one of the best beaches in the country, has a fine white sand and rounded granite rocks (which seem to "lie") and the water in a beautiful Turquoise
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28. Beau Vallon beach It is one of the largest beaches of the Seychelles and one of the most popular because of its proximity to Victoria, is 3 km and there are buses that take you to the capital. It has a very clean white sand and almost no rocks, palm trees almost touch the sea. The whole area is a large resort where the main hotels are located
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30. La Digue La Digue is the fourth largest inhabited island of Seychelles. Has an area of 10 km ² and a population of about 2,000 people. From other islands can be reached by boat to La Passe, the main town of La Digue. The island is a haven of tranquility, no cars and means of transportation are bicycles and bullock carts. Besides the beaches there is a route south of the island where the Veuve Reserve, a protected area and free access, dedicated to recovering the endemic species as a huge turtle
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32. Valle de Mai On the island of Praslin, Valle de Mai has the largest concentration of coconut palms produce market, with nearly four thousand copies. The prehistoric forest in this valley is part of World Heritage. There are different types of palm trees, palms, bananas, fan palms and other varieties endemic to the islands. In the valley, there are other interesting plants such as pineapple wild, wild coffee bushes and Jamaica pepper. If you plan to visit the place, you should not leave the marked trails. The Coco de Mer has an impressive size, in fact there are signs on palm trees with coconuts care
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34. Anse Takamaka Although the island of Mahe is very small, and the bus service is good, it's best to visit its beaches, is to hire a mini moke, "a small all-terrain which also run on the road, you can delve into the dirt roads to go to any beach access difficult. One of the most beautiful beaches of Anse Mahé is Takamaka, fine white sand, and a crystal clear water with little change in the tide. It is located in the southwest, to access it you go through a road where there are orchards and the occasional hut
35. The beach owes its name to Takamaka trees, that surrounds and protects from wind as well s to be a good option to keep out the sun ... And even give you a good nap. s most attractive of this beach is the restaurant Chez Batista, specializes in Creole food on the island tipaca
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37. Morne Seychelles National Park Although "detach" from the beaches seem almost impossible, one of the most beautiful views from where you can contemplate the exuberant vegetation and the coast of the island is the rise to Morne Park. The route you can do from the city of Victoria (it is not painful, contrary .. a joy) to Sans Souci. Through full of vegetation marked trails go through forests and seeing several tea plantations, and countless tropical plants very difficult to see on other islands.
39. The Seychelles can be a haven for lovers of water sports. You can not visit the islands without practicing at least once in their wonderful snorkelling waters. The best places to play sports, near Mahe, are Sainte Anne, Anse Soleil, Petite Anse and Ile Souris. More to Praslin, the island is also recommended to Chauve-souris. Diving is considered one of the happiest in the low atolls. There are schools providing courses and equipment can be rented. Windsurfing is especially popular in Mahé and Praslin. Also fishing enthusiasts can sign up for organized tours. If there is a hydrophobic lost in the Seychelles, you can still find a wide variety of land activities, from mountaineering, trekking and mountaineering in Praslin and La Digue and all kinds of hikes.
