Geography – 9th gradeJessica Jensen

Seychelles: Location

Archipelago: a large group or chain of islands

Located in western Indian Ocean

Northeast of Madagascar

Seychelles: Location

Lies between 4 and 10 degrees south of equator

Located between 480 km and 1600 km from east coast of Africa

Seychelles:Capital &

CitiesVictoria: located on island of MaheHome to 90 percent of the population72000 inhabitants

Praslin: second largest islandPraslin: 6500 inhabitants 45 km northeast of Mahe

Seychelles: Major

Landforms116 individual islands41 inner islands – oldest mid-oceanic granite islands on Earth

75 outer islands - coralline islandsOuter islands – low lying coral atollsLargest raised coral atoll – AldabraAtoll: ring-shaped coral reef or a string of closely spaced small coral islands, enclosing or nearly enclosing a shallow lagoon

Seychelles: Climate

Traditionally warm and without extremes

Temperature normally between 24 and 32 degrees Celsius (75.2 and 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit)

Humid climate with strong maritime influence

No distinct dry season

Seychelles: Demographics

Ethnic groups: Creoles, Indians and Malagasy

Language: English – official language of the Seychelles (4.9%)Language: Creole – dominant language of the Seychelles (91.8%)

Religion: Roman Catholics (82.3%)

Seychelles: GovernmentRepublic form of government with executive, legislative and judicial branchesLocated in capital city of Victoria

Current president: James Michel Elected April 24, 2004

Seychelles: Major

Resources & Natural Hazards

Main natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon treesCopra: dried meat of the coconut

Natural hazards: floods and short droughtsLies outside of the cyclone belt

Seychelles: Environmental

IssuesEnvironmental issues Climate changeConservation of the threatened marine turtleDependency of water supply on catchments

Catchments: device used to capture and retain rainwater and run-off

Seychelles: Economic Factors

Major Industries: Tourism – 30 percent of labor

force; provides 70 percent of hard currency earnings

Fishing Processing of coconuts,

vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope

Seychelles: Economic Factors

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita (PPP): $21,600

PPP: (purchasing power parity) measure of long-term equilibrium based on price levels of two countries

Simplified PPP: indicator of country’s economic health

Labor Force Composition: Primary – 3% Secondary – 30.8% Tertiary – 66.2%

Seychelles:Education

Population growth rate: 0.996 Life expectancy: 73.28 yearsLiteracy rate: 91.8 percent of the population over 15 can read and write

Seychelles:Current Issue

Need for potable water supply

Lack of rainwater / desalination plants not working at full capacity

Places strong emphasis on water conservation

Seychelles:Reasons to Visit

Two UNESCO World Heritage sites:

Aldabar Atoll – outer island; largest raised coral atoll on Earth

Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve: home to the coco de mer palm; located on inner island of Praslin