Praslin
{{Short description|Island in the Seychelles, Somali Sea}}
{{About||the town in France|Praslin, Aube|the town in Saint Lucia|Praslin, Saint Lucia}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Praslin Island
| image_name = Insel Praslin, Seychellen (38908943104).jpg
| image_caption =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| map = Seychelles
| native_name =
| native_name_link =
| native_name_lang = fr
| sobriquet = Ile de Palmes
| location = Seychelles, Indian Ocean
| coordinates = {{coord|4|19|48|S|55|44|48|E|region:SC_type:isle_dim:50000|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago = Inner Islands, Seychelles
| waterbody = Indian Ocean
| total_islands = 1
| major_islands = {{hlist|Praslin }}
| area_km2 = 38.52
| coastline_km = 46
| length_km = 12
| width_km = 4.6
| highest_mount = Mont Azore
| elevation_m = 367
| country = Seychelles
| country_admin_divisions_title = Group
| country_admin_divisions = Inner Islands
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Sub-Group
| country_admin_divisions_1 = Granitic Seychelles
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Sub-Group
| country_admin_divisions_2 = Praslin Islands
| country_admin_divisions_title_3 = Districts
| country_admin_divisions_3 = Split
| country_largest_city = Baie Sainte Anne
| country_largest_city_population = 2500
| population = 7,553
| population_as_of = 2014
| density_km2 =
| ethnic_groups = Creole, French, East Africans, Chinese, Indians.
| timezone1 = SCT
| utc_offset1 = +4
| website = {{URL|https://www.seychelles.travel/en/content-page/2-uncategorised/2023-praslin|Official Site}}
| iso_code_type = ISO code
| iso_code = SC-07,14
}}
Praslin ({{IPA|fr|pʁalɛ̃}}) is the second largest island (38.5 km2) of the Inner Seychelles, lying {{convert|44|km|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of Mahé. Praslin has a population of around 7,533 people and comprises two administrative districts: Baie Sainte Anne and Grand' Anse. The main settlements are the Baie Ste Anne, Anse Volbert and Grand' Anse.
History
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 is known as a tourist destination with several hotels and resorts, as well as a number of beaches such as Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette.
It has substantial tracts of tropical forests with birds such as the endemic Seychelles bulbul and the Seychelles black parrot. The Vallée de Mai Nature Preserve, established in 1979,[https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=261 reserve info] is known for the unique coco de mer and vanilla orchids. It has been reported that General Charles George Gordon of Khartoum (1833–1885), an ardent Christian cosmologist, was convinced that Vallée de Mai was the Biblical "Garden of Eden".{{cite web |first=Linda |last=Colley |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/sep/02/ghosts-empire-kwasi-kwarteng-review |title=Ghosts of Empire by Kwasi Kwarteng – review |work=The Guardian |date=2 September 2011 |access-date=3 September 2011}}
Praslin is home to Praslin Island Airport, while surrounding islands include Curieuse Island, La Digue, Cousin Island, Cousine Island and Aride Island. There are a few near offshore islets including Round Island (0.193 km2) and Chauve Souris (0.007 km2), both of which have hotel accommodations.
A large area in the south of the island has been designated as Praslin National Park and surrounding areas Important Bird Area.
Gallery
File:Traumstrand Anse Georgette, Praslin Seychellen (27839767139).jpg|Beach Anse Georgette, Praslin
File:Beach Anse Lazio Praslin Seychelles.DNG (38720879125).jpg|Beach Anse Lazio, Praslin
File:Anse Lazio Beach, Seychelles (38720921075).jpg|Beach Anse Lazio
File:Coco de Mer (39638784082).jpg|Coco de Mer from Praslin
File:Insel Praslin, Seychellen (38908943104).jpg|Praslin, Seychellen
File:Strand Petite Anse Kerlan, Praslin Seychellen (38908986064).jpg|Beach Petite Anse Kerlan, Praslin
File:Seychelles large map.jpg|Praslin within Seychelles
File:Praslin.svg|Map of Praslin
File:Shorts360airsey.jpg|Praslin airport
File:Seychelles praslin anselazio.jpg|Anse Lazio Beach on Praslin
File:Seychelles bulbul.jpg|Seychelles bulbul (Hypsipetes crassirostris) on Praslin
File:Valleé de mai2.jpg|The Vallée de Mai on Praslin Island, often referred to as the Garden of Eden.
File:Coco de mer leafs.jpg|Coco de mer
File:Praslin island seen from La Digue.JPG|Praslin seen from the east
File:Praslin von Anse Sévère.jpg|View of the second largest island of the Seychelles, Praslin, from Anse Sévère, La Digue, Seychelles
See also
- {{Portal-inline|Africa}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Praslin}}
- {{Wikivoyage-inline|Praslin}}
- [http://www.les-seychelles.eu/mapas.html Maps of Praslin]
- [http://tropic-island.net/gallery/album.php?id_album=5 Gallery of Praslin]
- [http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?location=Praslin&submit=Search Praslin Reptiles List]
- [http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/?action=names&taxon=&family=&subfamily=&genus=&commname=&authority=&year=&geo=0&dist=+Praslin+&comment= Praslin Fish List]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Praslin, Seychelles}}