Praslin

Praslin
	Map of Praslin
Waters	Indian Ocean
Archipelago	Seychelles
Geographical location	4 ° 19 ′ S , 55 ° 44 ′ E Coordinates: 4 ° 19 ′ S , 55 ° 44 ′ E
length	12 km
width	5 km
surface	37.58 km²
Highest elevation	Fond Azore ; 367 m
Residents	7000 (2002) ; 186 inhabitants / km²
main place	Baie Sainte Anne
	Anse Lazio beach on Praslin

Praslin is (after Mahé ) the second largest island in the inner Seychelles . It is approx. 12 km long and 5 km wide. Politically, the island consists of the districts of Grand Anse and Baie Sainte Anne , which lie on both sides of the mountain range that divides the mountainous island from northwest to southeast. Other neighboring islands belong to these districts. The highest mountain on the island of Fond Azore , located on the border between these districts, rises 367 m above sea level. Originally the island was undivided and received its own island council for local self-government as early as 1949. Baie Sainte Anne is the capital of the entire island.

Praslin has a total area of 37.58 km² and at the census in 2002 had a good 7000 inhabitants. Along with Curieuse, it is home to the Seychelles palm or Coco de Mer . Praslin has with Anse Kerlan and Anse Lazio on sandy beaches , which are among the finest in the world.

Praslin from La Digue seen from

The island has a connection to Mahe International Airport and Air Seychelles flies to it several times a day with twin-engine propeller planes. Alternatively, there are regular ferry connections u. a. with the high-speed catamaran “Cat Cocos” to the port of the capital Victoria (50 min) and with a motorized sailing schooner to La Digue (30 min). There are also more or less regular connections with cargo ships.

In the interior of the island is the nature reserve Vallée de Mai (Maital), which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983 . In addition to the Coco de Mer, it is also home to some of the rarest known bird species such as the black parrot or the thick-billed flight bird ( Hypsipetes crassirostris ).

Mahé , Silhouette , Curieuse , Aride , Cousin , Cousine , Île Ronde , La Digue and Île St. Pierre are within sight of Praslin .