Sainte Anne Marine National Park

Sainte Anne Marine National Park lies about 5 km from Victoria, the capital city of the Seychelles, and encompasses eight small islands.

Sainte Anne Marine National Park.
Sainte Anne Marine National Park.
Geography
LocationSeychelles, Indian Ocean
Coordinates4°37′S 55°30′E
ArchipelagoInner Islands, Seychelles
Adjacent bodies of waterIndian Ocean
Total islands8
Major islands
Area3.887 km2 (1.501 sq mi)
Highest elevation150 m (490 ft)
Highest pointMount Sainte Anne
Administration
GroupGranitic Seychelles
Sub-GroupMahe Islands
Sub-GroupSainte Anne Islands
DistrictsMont Fleuri
Capital citySainte Anne
(population 40)
Demographics
Population242 (2014)
Pop. density62/km2 (161/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsCreole, French, East Africans, Indians.
Additional information
Time zone
ISO codeSC-18
Official websitewww.seychelles.travel/en/discover/the-islands/

History

The Marine Park was created in 1973 for the preservation of wildlife, the first of its kind in the Indian Ocean. Fishing and water-skiing are forbidden within the Marine Park area. in 2005 used as picnic islands for the local population is too expensive and approved opening them to hotels and resorts.

Tourism

Today the islands are known as one of the prime tourist locations in the Indian Ocean for scuba-diving, glass-bottom boat excursions and snorkeling among the coral reefs. The colorful underwater world attracts tourists from around the world who are watching here the magnificent coral gardens, reef sharks and colorful tropical fish. The main island of Ste Anne is an 87-villa resort while Cerf Island and Round Island have Creole-style restaurants. It also has one of the largest areas of "seagrass meadows" in the Seychelles. It is very beautiful. Local tour operators offer day trips to the Marine Park.

Geography

The national park is made up of the following islands, with areas in km²:

  • Ste. Anne Island, 2.19 km², with large luxury resort Sainte Anne Island Resort
  • Cerf Island, 1.27 km², with a population of about 100, with three hotel-resorts (Cerf Island Marine Park Resort, Fairy Tern Chalets und L'Habitation), and restaurant Kapok Tree
  • Île Cachée, 0.021 km², close southeast of Cerf Island, a nesting site for seabirds
  • Round Island, 0.018 km², a former leper colony, with an exclusive five-star resort called "Round Island Resort" with 10 villas.
  • Long Island, 0.212 km², formerly a smallpox quarantine and state prison, currently being developed into a 5 star resort
  • Moyenne Island, 0.089 km², currently with no steady population after the decease of the founders of the Moyenne Island National Park (Brendon Grimshaw and assistant), and restaurant Maison Moyenne
  • Sèche Island (Beacon Island), 0.04 km²,
  • Harrison Rock (Grand Rocher) the eastern islet of the park.

The aggregate land area of the islands of the marine national park is 3.887 km². The total marine national park area is 14.43 km².[1]

Administration

All islands belong to Mont Fleuri District.[2] Because of the small population, there are not any government buildings or services, so people who live on the islands have to go to Victoria.

  • Map 1
  • Sainte Anne Island
  • Aerial view of Moyenne Island, Seychelles 1970
  • Moyenne Island image
  • Moyenne Island, Seychelles
  • Ile aux Cerfs 1980
  • St. Anne islands from Mahe
  • Location of the Ste Anne Marine National Park (islands in red)
  • Île aux Cerfs seen from Mahe, Seychelles
  • Anne Marine NP aerial Seychelles

References
  1. SCMRT-MPA Seychelles Center for Marine Research & Technology - Marine Parks Authority
  2. District map
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