Île Royale
| Île Royale | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Waters | Atlantic Ocean | |
| Archipelago | Îles du Salut | |
| Geographical location | 5 ° 17 '14 " N , 52 ° 35' 20" W | |
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| surface | 28 ha | |
| Highest elevation | 66 m | |
The Île Royale is an island twelve kilometers off the coast of French Guiana in South America and belongs to the Îles du Salut group. At 28 hectares, it is the largest and, at 66 m, the highest of the Îles du Salut. The island has been used as a prison since the middle of the 19th century, like the Devil's Island in the immediate vicinity , as the numerous cell blocks still standing testify.
Today the island, which is popular with tourists, houses a church, the prison museum and an inn (formerly the prison director's seat). In addition, the owner, the Guiana Space Center , operates a kinetheodolite here to observe rocket launches from the nearby Kourou spaceport .
Inn, formerly the seat of the prison director
church
Former prison
Cell block
museum
