Geography of Seychelles - Inner Islands

The Inner Islands is the collective term for 42 islands with a total area of 243.7 km², 54% of the Seychelles area but with more than 98% of the population.

The Granitic Group consists of 40 granite islands, all within a 56 km (35 mi) radius of the main island of Mahé. These islands are rocky, and most have a narrow coastal strip and a central range of hills rising as high as 914 metres (2,999 ft). The most important islands of this group are:

• Mahé is the largest island, with a size of 142 km2 (55 sq mi). Victoria, the capital, is on Mahé.
• Praslin Island,
• Silhouette Island,
• La Digue,
• Fregate Island,
• Curieuse Island,
• North Island,
• Aride Island.

Two coralline islands, at 90 km to the north, make up the remainder of the Inner Islands:

• Bird Island
• Denis Island

Millions of years ago, the archipelago was created by a combination of the separation of India from Africa as well as undersea volcanoes similar to those from which Mauritius and Réunion were created. Subsequently the vast majority of this huge land area became submerged over time.