Praslin () is the second largest island (38.5 km
2) of the Inner
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 northeast of
Mahé in the Somali Sea. Praslin has a population of around 7,533 people and comprises two administrative districts:
Baie Sainte Anne and
Grand' Anse. The main settlements are the
Baie Ste Anne,
Anse Volbert and
Grand' Anse.
It was named ''Isle de Palmes'' by explorer
Lazare Picault Lazare Picault (fl. mid-18th century) was a French explorer known for his exploration of islands in the Seychelles. in 1744. During that time it was used as a hideaway by
pirates and Arab merchants. In 1768 it was renamed ''Praslin'' in honor of French diplomat
César Gabriel de Choiseul
César Gabriel de Choiseul, duc de Praslin (, 15 August 1712 – 15 November 1785) was a French officer, diplomat and statesman.
On 30 April 1732, he married Anne Marie de Champagne de Villaines de la Suze.
After having served in the Army, he ...
, duc de Praslin.
Praslin is known as a tourist destination with several hotels and resorts, as well as a number of beaches such as
Anse Lazio and
Anse Georgette.
It has substantial tracts of tropical forests with birds such as the
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
Seychelles bulbul
The Seychelles bulbul (''Hypsipetes crassirostris'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a common endemic species of the Seychelles, breeding on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette as well as some smaller islands.
...
and the
Seychelles black parrot
The Seychelles black parrot, Praslin parrot or kato nwar (''Coracopsis barklyi'') is a sombre-coloured, medium-sized parrot endemic to the Seychelles. Historically, it has been treated as a subspecies of the lesser vasa parrot, although it shows ...
. The
Vallée de Mai Nature Preserve, established in 1979,
reserve info
/ref> is known for the unique coco de mer
Coco commonly refers to:
* Coco (folklore), a mythical bogeyman in many Hispano- and Lusophone nations
Coco may also refer to:
People
* Coco (given name), a first name, its shorthand, or unrelated nickname
* Coco (surname), a list of people w ...
and vanilla orchids
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant.
Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...
. It has been reported that General Charles George Gordon
Major-General Charles George Gordon CB (28 January 1833 – 26 January 1885), also known as Chinese Gordon, Gordon Pasha, and Gordon of Khartoum, was a British Army officer and administrator. He saw action in the Crimean War as an officer in ...
of Khartoum (1833-1885) was convinced that Vallée de Mai was the Biblical " Garden of Eden".
Praslin is home to Praslin Island Airport
Praslin Island Airport also known as Iles des Palmes Airport, is an airport at Grand Anse on Praslin Island in the Seychelles. It is served by Air Seychelles, which flies scheduled flights to Mahé and charters to the other islands in the Seych ...
, while surrounding islands include Curieuse Island
Curieuse Island is a small granitic island in the Seychelles close to the north coast of the island of Praslin. Curieuse is notable for its bare red earth intermingled with the unique coco de mer palms, one of the cultural icons of the Seychell ...
, La Digue
La Digue is the third most populated island of the Seychelles, and fourth largest by land area, lying east of Praslin and west of Felicite Island. In size, it is the fourth-largest granitic island of Seychelles after Mahé, Praslin and Silhouette ...
, Cousin Island
Cousin Island is a small () granitic island of the Seychelles, lying west of Praslin. It is a nature reserve protected under Seychelles law as a Special Reserve. It is managed by Nature Seychelles, a national nonprofit organization and Partner o ...
, Cousine Island
Cousine Island is a small granitic island in the Seychelles west of Praslin Island. It is a combination luxury resort and since 1992 a nature preserve.
History
In 1992 the island was purchased and a conservation program was introduced to protec ...
and Aride Island
Aride Island is the northernmost granitic island in the Seychelles ( Bird Island is the northernmost Seychelles island overall). A nature reserve, it is leased and managed by the Island Conservation Society of Seychelles.
History
The name ‘Ari ...
. There are a few near offshore islets including Round Island (0.193 km2) and Chauve Souris (0.007 km2), both of which have hotel accommodations.
A large area in the south of the island has been designated as Praslin National Park and surrounding areas Important Bird Area.
Gallery
File:Traumstrand Anse Georgette, Praslin Seychellen (27839767139).jpg, Beach Anse Georgette, Praslin
File:Beach Anse Lazio Praslin Seychelles.DNG (38720879125).jpg, Beach Anse Lazio, Praslin
File:Anse Lazio Beach, Seychelles (38720921075).jpg, Beach Anse Lazio
File:Coco de Mer (39638784082).jpg, Coco de Mer from Praslin
File:Insel Praslin, Seychellen (38908943104).jpg, Praslin, Seychellen
File:Strand Petite Anse Kerlan, Praslin Seychellen (38908986064).jpg, Beach Petite Anse Kerlan, Praslin
File:Seychelles large map.jpg, Praslin within Seychelles
File:Praslin.svg, Map of Praslin
File:Shorts360airsey.jpg, Praslin airport
File:Seychelles praslin anselazio.jpg, Anse Lazio Beach on Praslin
File:Seychelles bulbul.jpg, Seychelles bulbul
The Seychelles bulbul (''Hypsipetes crassirostris'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a common endemic species of the Seychelles, breeding on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette as well as some smaller islands.
...
(''Hypsipetes crassirostris'') on Praslin
File:Valleé de mai2.jpg, The Vallée de Mai on Praslin Island.
File:Coco de mer leafs.jpg, Coco de mer
Coco commonly refers to:
* Coco (folklore), a mythical bogeyman in many Hispano- and Lusophone nations
Coco may also refer to:
People
* Coco (given name), a first name, its shorthand, or unrelated nickname
* Coco (surname), a list of people w ...
File:Praslin island seen from La Digue.JPG, Praslin seen from the east
File:Praslin von Anse Sévère.jpg, View of the second largest island of the Seychelles, Praslin, from Anse Sévère, La Digue, Seychelles
See also
*
References
External links
*
*
Maps of Praslin
Gallery of Praslin
Praslin Reptiles List
Praslin Fish List
{{DEFAULTSORT:Praslin, Seychelles
Islands of Praslin Islands
Somali Sea
