Assumption Island is a small island in the
Outer Islands of
Seychelles
Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (french: link=no, République des Seychelles; Creole: ''La Repiblik Sesel''), is an archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, V ...
north of
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
, south-west of the capital,
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
, on
Mahé Island.
In 2018,
Seychelles
Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (french: link=no, République des Seychelles; Creole: ''La Repiblik Sesel''), is an archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, V ...
and
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
signed an agreement to build and operate a joint military facility on a portion of the island, which the National Assembly of Seychelles refuted the agreement and deemed after protestation by the citizens of Seychelles.
As protests continued, the Seychellois president endorsed the Assumption Island deal with India.
The plan caused public protests by activists who believed that the islands should stay out of the brewing
India-China regional conflict. The agreement was declared "''dead''" by the Island's opposition party.
History
Assumption Island was discovered by Captain Nicolas Morphey on 14 August 1756, and was named after the religious feast of the next day.
In 1908, the island was leased to Mr H. Savy of
Mahé, who built a coconut plantation there.
The first settlement was in the northern part of the island.
During a visit two years later, he realized the guano potential of the island. The villagers transferred their labor force to
guano
Guano (Spanish from qu, wanu) is the accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats. As a manure, guano is a highly effective fertilizer due to the high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, all key nutrients essential for plant growth. G ...
mining camp that operated from 1907 until 1983. The camp was the location of the current village. Later, the villagers were employed as fishermen, usually of
bêche-de-mer, until it was declared protected.
In the mid 1960s, the island was proposed as an American military base, including a deep sea port. After strong protests from environmental organizations, this plan was rejected.
In 1990, the airfield was built.
Geography
Assumption Island is located about 27 km south of Anse Takamaka on
Aldabra Atoll
Aldabra is the world's second-largest coral atoll, lying south-east of the continent of Africa. It is part of the Aldabra Group of islands in the Indian Ocean that are part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, with a distance of 1,120 k ...
and is part of the
Aldabra Group
The Aldabra Group are part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, lying in the southwest of the island nation, around from the capital, Victoria, on Mahé Island.
Population and area
The group contains four islands and atolls. The largest in ...
.
It is a single coral island in area. The western shore features an almost uninterrupted sandy beach 5.5 km. Two large
sand dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
s are prominent on the southeastern coast of the island, one of them high.
The 5.5 km, white, sandy beach that stretches on the southeastern side of the island has been several times named the best beach in the world''
' for its white sand, crystalline waters, diversity of marine life and lack of crowds.
Due to the disruptive effect of
guano
Guano (Spanish from qu, wanu) is the accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats. As a manure, guano is a highly effective fertilizer due to the high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, all key nutrients essential for plant growth. G ...
mining which lasted until 1983, the island is dominated by expanses of bare rock and caves, and is sparsely covered with low-growing vegetation.
Administration
The island belongs to the
Outer Islands District.
Transport
The island is bisected by a
concrete airfield running between the two sand dunes on the southeast point to the village on the western coast. The island is occasionally serviced by an
Island Development Company (IDC) aircraft from
Mahé, usually with scientists which have a boat take them to
Aldabra Atoll
Aldabra is the world's second-largest coral atoll, lying south-east of the continent of Africa. It is part of the Aldabra Group of islands in the Indian Ocean that are part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, with a distance of 1,120 k ...
.
The island has a small port called ''St. Thomas Anchorage'', which is currently enlarged by the
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...
to a large port.
Joint Military Facility
In 2015,
Seychelles
Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (french: link=no, République des Seychelles; Creole: ''La Repiblik Sesel''), is an archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, V ...
and
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
signed an agreement for constructing and operating joint military facility on the Island. A coast surveillance radar system built by support from
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
became operational in 2016. A revised agreement was signed in 2018 and the
Seychelles President has endorsed its ratification. The
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...
has also stated that this was a joint project on the request of the
Seychelles government and would be jointly managed by both countries.
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
plans to invest $550 million in building the facility. Recently, the deal for an Indian military base in
Seychelles
Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (french: link=no, République des Seychelles; Creole: ''La Repiblik Sesel''), is an archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, V ...
was declared as ‘''dead''’ by the Island's opposition party. The leader of the opposition also clearly stated that this was the end of the ‘''assumption agreement''’ and no further discussions on India's military base were on the agenda.
Flora and fauna
Assumption Island was once home to a great diversity of seabirds, including the
Abbott's booby
Abbott's booby (''Papasula abbotti'') is an endangered seabird of the sulid family, which includes gannets and boobies. It is a large booby and is placed within its own monotypic genus. It was first identified from a specimen collected by Willi ...
, which is now confined to a single breeding island:
Christmas Island
Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory comprising the island of the same name. It is located in the Indian Ocean, around south of Java and Sumatra and around north-west of the ...
, in the eastern Indian Ocean. Efforts are now underway by the
Seychelles Islands Foundation Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) manages and protects the World Heritage Sites of Aldabra and Vallee de Mai. The foundation was established as a public trust in 1979, with the President of Seychelles as patron. The Board of trustees, appointed b ...
, in conjunction with
Island Conservation Society The Island Conservation Society (ICS) was registered as an NGO in Seychelles on 25 March 2001. The Head Office, known as The Island Conservation Centre, is situated at Pointe Larue, Mahé. ICS focusses on protection and rehabilitation of the small ...
and the Islands Development Company, to restore the habitat of the island. The first successful step in this process was the removal of invasive, introduced bird species,
Madagascar fody and
red-whiskered bulbul
The red-whiskered bulbul (''Pycnonotus jocosus''), or crested bulbul, is a passerine bird native to Asia. It is a member of the bulbul family. It is a resident frugivore found mainly in tropical Asia. It has been introduced in many tropical are ...
.
A notable feature of this island is the
Assumption Island day gecko
Assumption Island day Gecko (''Phelsuma abbotti sumptio'' Cheke, 1982) is a subspecies of gecko. It is named for, and only found on, Assumption Island, a small outlying island to the south west of the Seychelles. This gecko It typically reache ...
, a
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of
gecko
Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards that have a wide distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. Belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, geckos are found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from .
Geckos ar ...
found only on this island. An endemic race of
souimanga sunbird once bred on the island.
The nature
documentary of
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau, (, also , ; 11 June 191025 June 1997) was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker and author. He co-invented the first successful Aqua-Lung, open-circuit SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus). Th ...
and
Louis Malle
Louis Marie Malle (; 30 October 1932 – 23 November 1995) was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in both Cinema of France, French cinema and Cinema of the United States, Hollywood. Described as "eclectic" and "a fi ...
, ''
The Silent World
''The Silent World'' (french: Le Monde du silence) is a 1956 French documentary film co-directed by Jacques Cousteau and Louis Malle. One of the first films to use underwater cinematography to show the ocean depths in color, its title derives f ...
'' was partially shot on Assumption.
Island guide
The island is known for its rich fish life.
Image gallery
File:Seychelles large map.jpg, Map 1
File:Outer Islands in Seychelles.svg, District Map
File:Assumption Island (rotated 45 degrees clockwise, cropped, corners filled).jpg, Assumption Island
File:Seychelles outer islands 25.08.2009 10-17-46.jpg, Assumption Island with its runway
File:Seychelles_outer_islands_25.08.2009_10-17-59.jpg, Assumption Island closer look
References
External links
National Bureau of Statistics
Gallery of Aldabra and Assumption
{{DEFAULTSORT:Assumption, Seychelles
Coral islands
Islands of Outer Islands (Seychelles)
Indian Naval Air Stations
Indian Navy bases
Indian Air Force bases
Indian Army bases