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The Seychelles comprise a group of 115 islands situated 1 500km east of the African mainland and about 3 000km west of India. The main islands of Mahé, La Digue and Praslin lie 5 degrees just south of the Equator.

The populated islands are the only mid-oceanic group of granite islands in the world and are characterized by a narrow coastal strip with a rocky and hilly interior. The other coral islands have been formed by elevated reefs.

The islands were sighted by the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama in 1542 but were first settled by the French in 1773. The French planters introduced spices but in 1814 (during the Napoleonic wars) the British annexed the islands and in 1904 the Seychelles became a Crown colony. Fish, copra and cinnamon trees remain the natural resources of the islands and the population is a mix of European, Asian, Indian, Chinese and African.

The first full elections in the colony resulted in a stalemate between the Seychelles Peoples’ United Party (SPUP) led by Albert Rene and the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP) led by James Mancham. Independence was granted on 29th June 1976 and the first post-independence government was a coalition

between the SPUP and the SDP with Mancham as President and Rene as Prime Minister. The following year, whilst Mancham was attending a Commonwealth Conference in London, Rene became President after a bloodless coup. Rene was re-elected on a five year term on Sunday 2nd September 2001, following introduction of multiparty democracy

-->	Government Type : Republic of Seychelles
-->	Population : 80 832
-->	Nationality : Seychellois
-->	Religion : Roman Catholic, Anglican and Christian
-->	Languages : English, French and Creole
-->	Capital : Victoria, Mahé Island
-->	Legal System : English Common Law, French Civil Law and Customary Law
-->	Currency : Seychelles Rupee (SCR). One rupee = 100 cents

Climate
The group of islands are outside of the cyclone belt and have a humid tropical marine climate
26 - 31°C.

There are two monsoon seasons:

-->	South East: (May to October) being strong, cool and dry and bringing overcast skies and choppy seas- ideal for yacht racing
-->	North West: (December to March) being hotter and more rainy although the seas are calmer - for sailing with the family

TIME ZONE: (GMT+04:00)