Mahé, Seychelles

Mahé is the largest island (157.3 km²) of Seychelles, lying in the northeast of the Seychellean nation in the Somali Sea part of the Indian Ocean. The population of Mahé was 77,000, as of the 2010 census.[1] It contains the capital city of Victoria and accommodates 86% of the country's total population. The island was named after Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais, a French governor of Isle de France (modern-day Mauritius).

This article is about the island of Seychelles. For other uses, see Mahé (disambiguation).

Mahé
Beach on Mahé
Mahé
Geography
LocationSeychelles, Indian Ocean
Coordinates4°40′S 55°28′E
ArchipelagoInner Islands, Seychelles
Adjacent bodies of waterIndian Ocean
Total islands1
Major islands
  • Mahé
Area157.3 km2 (60.7 sq mi)
Length26 km (16.2 mi)
Width17 km (10.6 mi)
Coastline111.3 km (69.16 mi)
Highest elevation905 m (2969 ft)
Highest pointMorne Seychellois
Administration
Seychelles
GroupGranitic Seychelles
Sub-GroupMahe Islands
Districtsmultiple
Largest settlementVictoria (pop. 35000)
Demographics
Population95,000 (2018)
Pop. density490/km2 (1270/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsCreole, French, East Africans, Chinese, Indians.
Additional information
Time zone
Official websitewww.seychelles.travel/en/discover/the-islands/inner-islands/28-discover/the-islands/2901-mahe

Mahé's tallest peak is Morne Seychellois at 905 m (2,969 ft), which lies in the Morne Seychellois National Park. The northern and eastern parts of the island are home to much of the population and the Seychelles International Airport which opened in 1971. The southern and western parts have Baie Ternay Marine National Park, Port Launay Marine National Park, and University of Seychelles. The Sainte Anne Marine National Park lies offshore, as do Conception Island, Thérèse Island, Anonyme Island and several smaller islands.

Mahé was first visited by the British in 1609 and not visited by Europeans again until Lazare Picault's expedition of 1742. The French navy frégate Le Cerf (English: The Deer) arrived at Port Victoria on 1 November 1756. On board was Corneille Nicholas Morphey, leader of the French expedition, which claimed the island for the King of France by laying a Stone of Possession on Mahe, Seychelles’ oldest monument, now on display in the National Museum, Victoria.

In August 1801 a Royal Navy frigate HMS Sibylle captured the French frigate Chiffonne on the island. Mahé remained a French possession until 1812 when it became a British colony. It remained a colony until 1976 when Seychelles became an independent nation.

Mahé's forests have rare endemic plants found only in Seychelles, such as the critically endangered Medusagyne oppositifolia (the jellyfish tree), the carnivorous Nepenthes pervillei (Seychelles pitcher plant), and many unique species of orchid.

Mahé had a huge land reclamation project due to a shortage of housing, in the areas of Bel Ombre and the Port of Victoria.[2]

Economy

Mahé's economy is mainly dependent on tourism. Air Seychelles has its head office on the property of Seychelles International Airport on the island.[3] The Port of Victoria is home to a tuna fishing and canning industry. From 1963 to 1996 the United States Air Force maintained a satellite control network here at the Indian Ocean Station, where it had a significant impact on the local economy.[4]

Administration

The island has multiple districts.[5]

  • View point Anse Major, Mahe
  • Aerial of Beau Vallon Mahe, Seychelles
  • Beach resort Mahe Island, Seychelles
  • Eden island Mahe
  • View point at Anse Intendance beach, Mahe
  • Aerial of beach Anse Intendance
  • Aerial of Anse Takamaka beach, Mahe
  • Map 1
  • Mahé's capital Victoria
  • Mahé's capital Victoria
  • Mahé
  • Beach
  • Mahé's Harbour
  • Port Launay Beach, Mahé

References
  1. "Population and Housing Census 2010 Report" (PDF). National Bureau of Statistics. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  2. "New plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. "Offices & GSAs head Office Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine." Air Seychelles. Retrieved on 29 January 2011 "Head Office Air Seychelles Ltd Head Office International Airport P.O.Box 386 Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles."
  4. Seychelles Station Tracks U.S. Satellites : Air Force Facility Marks 25th Anniversary of Indian Ocean Duty
  5. District map
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