Introduction
Victoria is the capital of the Republic of Seychelles, a country consisting of more than 100 small islands in the Indian Ocean. The city is located on the northeastern coast of Mahé Island, the largest island in the Seychelles group.
Places of interest
Although Victoria is a small town by the standards of most other countries, it is much larger than any other settlement in Seychelles. Most of the population of Seychelles resides on Mahé Island, and the majority of those people live in Victoria. The city is thus the cultural center of the islands. The National Library occupies a building built in the early 20th century with a donation from the U.S. industrialist Andrew Carnegie. In the National Museum are exhibits illustrating the history of the country's people and natural environment. Tropical plants and trees grow in the city's botanical gardens.
Economy
Victoria is the only port and the economic center of Seychelles. The town's main commercial activities revolve around shipping. The islands' exports pass through Victoria's deepwater port on their way to other countries. These exports are mostly food products such as canned tuna, copra (dried coconut meat), cinnamon, and vanilla.
An international airport was opened near Victoria in 1971. Since then tourism has become an increasingly important part of the city's economy. Nearby white sand beaches are a big attraction for vacationers.
History
No one lived on the Seychelles islands when the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama visited them in 1502. They remained uninhabited until the French built the first permanent settlements in the mid-18th century. War between France and Britain led to the surrender of the islands to the British in the early 19th century. In 1841 the British named the colonial capital in honor of Queen Victoria. In 1976 Seychelles became an independent nation and Victoria became the national capital. Population (1999 estimate), 28,000.
