Seychelles is known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters as well as a unique plant and animal life. It consists of 115 islands off the coast of East Africa. There are two main island groups: the inner Islands, which are granitic in origin and the outer Islands, which are mostly coral atolls. However, only eight of the islands are inhabited and most Seychellois live on just three islands: Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. The largest, Mahé, is home to the 'world's smallest capital', Victoria.
It wasn't until 1756 that the island was settled with the arrival of a French frigate. The islands were named after the French finance minister of the day, Jean Moreau de Séchelles. The Napoleonic Wars saw the British Navy seize the islands in 1796 and Seychelles remained a British colony until peacefully claiming independence in 1976. Since then tourism strongly boosted the economic growth, fueled by the opening of Seychelles International Airport in 1971.