Victoria, Seychelles

2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: African Geography

Port Victoria

Victoria's centrally located clock tower

Victoria (sometimes called Port Victoria or Mahé) is the capital city of the Seychelles and is situated on the north-eastern side of Mahé island. The city was first established as the seat of the British colonial government. As of 2002, the population is 24,970, which is approximately one third of the population of the Seychelles. Victoria is served by the Seychelles International Airport (completed in 1971.)

The principal exports of Victoria are vanilla, coconuts, coconut oil, tortoise shell, soap, and guano.

Attractions in the city include a clocktower modelled on that of Vauxhall Bridge in London, England, the Courthouse, the Victoria Botanical Gardens, the Victoria National Museum of History, the Victoria Natural History Museum and the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market. The city is also home to the national stadium and a polytechnic institute, while the inner harbour lies immediately east of the town, around which tuna fishing and canning form a major local industry. One of the largest bridges in Victoria was destroyed in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Greater Victoria encompasses eight of the 25 Districts of Seychelles:

1. La Riviere Anglaise (English River)
2. Mont Buxton
3. Saint Louis
4. Bel Air
5. Mont Fleuri
6. Roche Caiman
7. Les Mamelles
8. Plaisance