The Aldabra Group are part of the Outer Islands of the

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, ...

, lying in the southwest of the island nation, around from 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.

Population and area

The group contains four islands and atolls. The largest in terms of area is, by far, Aldabra Atoll, with a total land surface area of 155km², consisting of four main islands (Grand Terre, Malabar, Picard, and Polymnie) and many smaller islets. Aldabra Research Station (on Picard) was established by the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

in 1971 and is Aldabra's only permanent settlement, with a small group of scientists, conservationists, and support staff. There is a small settlement on

Assumption Assumption, in Christianity, refers to the Assumption of Mary, a belief in the taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Assumption may also refer to: Places * Assumption, Alberta, Canada * Assumption, Illinois, United States ** Assumption Town ...

, as well as an airstrip. There are small lodges on Astove and Wizard Island,

Cosmoledo Atoll Cosmoledo Atoll is an atoll of the Aldabra Group and belongs to the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, and is located southwest of the capital, Victoria, on Mahé Island. History The name ''Cosmoledo'' is said to honor a Portuguese navigator w ...

. The total land area of the Aldabra Group is 180.03 km².

Islands in the Aldabra group

Aldabra 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 ...

Atoll (a raised

atoll An atoll () is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical oceans and seas where corals can gro ...

with four main and some 40 small islets) # Assumption Island (a single island on a raised reef) #

Cosmoledo Cosmoledo Atoll is an atoll of the Aldabra Group and belongs to the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, and is located southwest of the capital, Victoria, on Mahé Island. History The name ''Cosmoledo'' is said to honor a Portuguese navigator who ...

Atoll (a raised atoll with two main and about 18 smaller islets) # Astove Island (a raised atoll with just one island)

References

External links

Indian Ocean Pilot
Outer Islands (Seychelles) Archipelagoes of Seychelles {{Seychelles-geo-stub