La Digue Island - Seychelles - La Source D'Argent Beach, originally uploaded by ladigue_99.
La Digue is the fourth largest inhabited island of the Seychelles, lying east of Praslin and west of Felicite Island. Seychelles, officially the Republic of Seychelles, is an archipelago nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar.
SUNSET@LA GOGUE, MAHE, SEYCHELLES, originally uploaded by bodji.
La Digue island has a population of about 2,000 people, who mostly live in the west coast villages of La Passe. La Digue is named after a ship in the fleet of French explorer Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne, who visited the Seychelles in 1768.
Anse Source d'Argent, originally uploaded by six72.
Today the island's main industry is tourism and is known for its beaches especially Anse Source d'Argent. In former times copra and vanilla production were mainstays of the local economy; which is commemorated in the island's museum. In the island's interior is Veuve Nature Reserve, home of the rare Black Paradise Flycatcher, of which there are only about 100 in existence. La Digue's tallest peak is also in the central part of the island, Belle Vue (Eagle's Nest Mtn) which is more than 300 meters above sea level.
Praslin, originally uploaded by Kest@okU.
Praslin is the second largest island (38 km²) of the Seychelles. Praslin has a population of around 6,500 people and comprises two administrative districts; Baie Sainte Anne and Grand' Anse (Praslin). The main settlements are the Baie Ste Anne, Anse Volbert and Grand' Anse.
Praslin, originally uploaded by Kest@okU.
It was named Isle de Palmes by explorer Lazare Picault 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, duc de Praslin.
Praslin, originally uploaded by Kest@okU.
Praslin is known as a tourist destination with many beaches and hotels. It also has substantial tracts of tropical forests with birds such as the Seychelles Bulbul and its endemic black parrot. The beautiful Valee de Mai Nature Preserve is known for the unique coco de mer and vanilla orchids. It has been reported that General Charles George Gordon of Khartoum (1833-1885) was convinced that Valle de Mai was the Biblical "Garden of Eden".
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