Seychelles - Silhouette Island

Silhouette was the first island of the group to be seen when the islands were discovered in 1609 but was not settled until the early 19th century. From 1860 attempts were made to develop parts of the island for agriculture or forestry. A wide range of plants was introduced for crops of timber, fruit, spices and oils. These are all abandoned now but the plants can still be found growing in the most unlikely places. In the 1940s a small grove of Coco-de-Mer trees (Lodoicea maldivica) was planted high in the mountains. This thriving population of this rare palm provided an occupation for part of the 1000 strong labour force on the island, some of whom had to climb up to the trees to water them daily. The dramatic legacy of the island's history; a cast-iron neo-classical mausoleum, is the most remarkable piece of eccentricity in all Seychelles. Silhouette is the third largest island in Seychelles archipelago and also rated as one of the most physically attractive island in the granites group. Five Kilometres long and wide, Silhouette which is about one hour boat ride from Mahe, boasts the 780 meter high Mount Dauban and its surrounding thick virgin forests, which is a haven for ecologists and environmentalists. Blessed by this luxuriant evergreen vegetation, the island is surrounded with a rich marine life kingdom whose reefs contains a multitude of all types of fish and shells, whilst green turtles breed on some of its un spoilt beaches. Silhouette which got its name from that of an 18th century French Minister is also known to have been the home to one of the most notorious pirates, Jean Francois Hodoul and the legend has it that his fortune still lies buried there. Surrounded by a national marine park extending a mile from its coastline, Silhouette lies near one of the fishing banks found between the island and one of the most beautiful beach the Beau Vallon beach.