GEOGRAPHY
Seychelles is located in the
Indian Ocean about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) east of Kenya.
The nation is an archipelago of 115 beautiful, tropical islands
with two distinct collections of islands, some comprised of granite
and others of coral. The Mahe Group consists of 42 granite islands,
all within a 56-kilometer (35 mi.) radius of the main island of
Mahe. These islands are rocky, and most have a narrow coastal
stripe and a central range of hills rising as high as 914 meters
(3,000 ft.). Mahe is the largest island--9,142 sq. km (55-sq.
mi.)--and is the site of Victoria, the capital. The coral islands
are flat with elevated coral reefs at different stages of formation.
They have no fresh water and can sustain human life only with
difficulty.
The
climate is equable and healthy, although quite humid, as the islands
are small and subject to marine influences. The temperature varies
little throughout the year. Temperatures on Mahe vary from 240C
to 29.90C (750F-850F), and rainfall ranges from 288 centimeters
(90 in.) annually at Victoria to 355 centimeters (140 in.) on
the mountain slopes. Precipitation is somewhat less on the other
islands. During the coolest months, July and August, it drops
to as low as 700F. The southeast trade winds blow regularly from
May to November, and this is the most pleasant time of the year.
The hot months are from December to April, with higher humidity
(80). March and April are the hottest months, but the temperature
seldom exceeds 880F. Most of the islands lie outside the cyclone
belt, so high winds are rare.
Official
Name: Republic of Seychelles
Area: 444 sq. km; about 2.5 times the size
of Washington DC.
Major Islands: Mahe and Praslin.
Cities: Capital--Victoria.
Terrain: About half of the islands are granitic
in origin, with narrow coastal strips and central ranges of
hills rising to 905 m. The other half are coral atolls, many
uninhabitable.
Climate: Tropical marine.
