Fijian, Filipino, Finnish, French - Information on Languages by Country for Translation * A * B * C * D * E * F * G * H * I * J * K * L * M * N * O * P * Q * R * S * T * U * V * W * X * Y * Z Language:Fijian Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. It has 450,000 first-language speakers which is more than half the population of Fiji, but another 200,000 speak it as a second language. The 1997 Constitution established Fijian as an official language of Fiji, along with English and Hindustani, and there is discussion about establishing it as the "national language. Fiji: Fiji officially the Republic of Fiji is an island country in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,100 nautical miles northeast of New Zealand's North Island.

Its closest neighbors are Vanuatu to the west, France's New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealand's Kermadec to the southeast, Tonga to the east, the Samoas and France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast, and Tuvalu to the north. Language: Filipino Filipino is a prestige register of the Tagalog language, based on the dialect of Manila, and is the name under which Tagalog is designated the national language and one of two official languages of the Philippines. Tagalog is a first language of about one-third of the Philippine population; it is centered around Manila but is spoken to varying degrees nationwide. Philippines: The Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines is a sovereign island country in Southeast Asia situated in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan; west across the South China Sea sits Vietnam; southwest is the island of Borneo across the Sulu Sea, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia; while to the east it is bounded by the Philippine Sea and the island-nation of Palau.

Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons, but also endows it with abundant natural resources and some of the world's greatest biodiversity. The Philippines is the 73rd-largest country in the world, consisting of an archipelago of 7,107 islands that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Language: Finnish Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a Finnish dialect, are spoken. The Kven language, a dialect of Finnish, is spoken in Northern Norway. Finland: Finland officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, Russia to the east, and Estonia to the south across the Gulf of Finland.About 5.4 million people live in Finland (end of 2012), with the majority concentrated in its southern regions.

In terms of area, it is the eighth largest country in Europe and the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. Politically, it is a parliamentary republic with a central government based in the capital of Helsinki, local governments in 336 municipalities and an autonomous region, the Åland Islands (making Finland a federacy). About one million residents live in the Greater Helsinki area (consisting of Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, and Vantaa) and a third of the country's GDP is produced there. Other larger cities include Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Lahti, and Kuopio. Language: French French or la langue française is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick (Acadia region) in Canada, the Acadiana region of the U.S. state of Louisiana, the northern parts of the U.S. states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in the New England region, and by various communities elsewhere.

Other speakers of French, who often speak it as a second language, are distributed throughout many parts of the world, the largest numbers of whom reside in Francophone Africa. In Africa, French is most commonly spoken in Gabon (where 80% report fluency), Mauritius (78%), Algeria (75%), Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire (70%). French is estimated as having 110 million native speakers and 190 million more second language speakers. Belgium: Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal monarchy in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters as well as those of several other major international organisations such as NATOBelgium covers an area of 11,790 sq miles, and it has a population of about 11 million people. Benin: Benin officially the Republic of is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, by Nigeria to the east and by Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. A majority of the population live on its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin.

The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country's largest city. Benin covers an area of approximately 42,000 sq miles, with a population of approximately 9 million. Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with substantial employment and income arising from subsistence farming. Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso also known by its short-form name Burkina, is a landlocked country in West Africa around 105,900 sq miles in size. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north; Niger to the east; Benin to the southeast; Togo and Ghana to the south; and Ivory Coast to the southwest. Its capital is Ouagadougou. In 2011, its population was estimated at just under 16 million. Burundi: Burundi officially the Republic of Burundi is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa, bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura.

Although the country is landlocked, much of the southwestern border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika.The Twa, Hutu and Tutsi peoples have lived in Burundi for at least five hundred years and, for over two hundred years, Burundi was ruled as a kingdom. At the beginning of the twentieth century, however, Germany and Belgium occupied the region and Burundi and Rwanda became a European colony known as Ruanda-Urundi. Social differences between the Tutsi and Hutu have since contributed to political unrest in the region, leading to civil war in the middle of the twentieth century. Presently, Burundi is governed as a presidential representative democratic republic. Cameroon: Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon is a country in the west Central Africa region. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. The country is often referred to as "Africa in miniature" for its geological and cultural diversity.

Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. The highest point is Mount Cameroon in the southwest, and the largest cities are Douala, Yaoundé and Garoua. Cameroon is home to over 200 different linguistic groups. The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi, and for its successful national football team. French and English are the official languages. Canada: Canada is a country in North America consisting of 10 provinces and 3 territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean. At 10 million square kilometers in total, Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, and its common border with the United States is the world's longest land border shared by the same two countries.The land that is now Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French colonial expeditions explored, and later settled, the region's Atlantic coast.

France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America to the United Kingdom in 1763 after the French and Indian War, which was essentially the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades, the territory was explored and additional self-governing Crown colonies were established. On July 1, 1867, three colonies federated, forming a federal dominion that established Canada. Central African Republic: The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the northeast, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about 240,000 sq miles and has an estimated population of about 4.4 million as of 2008. The capital is Bangui.France called the colony it carved out in this region Oubangui-Chari, as most of the territory was located in the Ubangi and Chari river basins.

It became a semi-autonomous territory of the French Community in 1958 and then an independent nation on 13 August 1960, taking its present name. For over three decades after independence, the CAR was ruled by presidents or an emperor, who either were unelected or who took power by force. Local discontent with this system was eventually reinforced by international pressure, following the end of the Cold War. Chad: Chad officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west.Chad is divided into multiple regions: a desert zone in the north, an arid Sahelian belt in the centre and a more fertile Sudanese savanna zone in the south. Lake Chad, after which the country is named, is the largest wetland in Chad and the second-largest in Africa. Chad's highest peak is the Emi Koussi in the Sahara, and N'Djamena, (formerly Fort-Lamy), the capital, is the largest city. Chad is home to over 200 different ethnic and linguistic groups.

Arabic and French are the official languages. Islam and Christianity are the most widely practiced religions. Comoros: The Comoros officially the Union of the Comoros is a sovereign archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel off the eastern coast of Africa, between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar. Other countries near the Comoros are Tanzania to the northwest and the Seychelles to the northeast. Its capital is Moroni, on Grande Comore.At 720 sq miles, excluding the contested island of Mayotte, the Comoros is the third-smallest African nation by area. The population, excluding Mayotte, is estimated at 798,000. The name "Comoros" derives from the Arabic word قمر qamar ("moon"). As a nation formed at a crossroads of many civilizations, the archipelago is noted for its diverse culture and history. The Union of the Comoros has three official languages – Comorian, Arabic and French – though French is the sole official language on Mayotte.

Côte d'Ivoire: Ivory Coast or Côte d'Ivoire officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire is a country in West Africa. It has an area of 124,503 sq miles, and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,500,000 in 1998 and was estimated to be 20,500,000 in 2009. Ivory Coast's first national census in 1975 counted 6.7 million inhabitants. Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Democratic Republic of the Congo sometimes referred to as DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa or the DRC, is a country located in Central Africa. It is the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. With a population of over 75 million, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the nineteenth most populous nation in the world, the fourth most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous officially Francophone country.

Djibouti: Djibouti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east.In antiquity, the territory was part of the Land of Punt. The Djibouti area, along with other localities in the Horn region, was later the seat of the medieval Adal and Ifat Sultanates. In the late 19th century, the colony of French Somaliland was established following treaties signed by the ruling Somali and Afar Sultans with the French. It was subsequently renamed to the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in 1967. A decade later, the Djiboutian people voted for independence. This officially marked the establishment of the Republic of Djibouti, named after its capital city. Djibouti joined the United Nations the same year, on September 20, 1977.

In the early 1990s, tensions over government representation led to armed conflict, which ended in a power sharing agreement in 2000 between the ruling party and the opposition. Equatorial Guinea: Equatorial Guinea officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea is a small country located in Central Africa, with an area of 11,000 sq miles. It has two parts, an insular and a mainland region. The insular region consists of the islands of Bioko (formerly Fernando Pó) in the Gulf of Guinea and Annobón, a small volcanic island south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost part of Equatorial Guinea and is the site of the country's capital, Malabo. The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is located between Bioko and Annobón. The mainland region, Río Muni, is bordered by Cameroon on the north and Gabon on the south and east. It also includes several small offshore islands (such as Corisco, Elobey Grande, and Elobey Chico). France: France officially the French Republic is a sovereign country in Western Europe that includes overseas regions and territories.

Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of only three countries (besides Morocco and Spain) to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. Due to its shape, it is often referred to in French as l’Hexagone ("The Hexagon"). Gabon: Gabon officially the Gabonese Republic is a sovereign state on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, Gabon is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo on the east and south, and the Gulf of Guinea to the west. It has an area of nearly 100,000 sq miles and its population is estimated at 1.5 million people. Its capital and largest city is Libreville. Guinea: Guinea officially the Republic of Guinea is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea (French: Guinée française), it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbor Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

It has a population of 10 million and an area of 95,000 sq miles. Forming a crescent as it curves from its western border on the Atlantic Ocean toward the east and the south, it shares its northern border with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali, and its southern border with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire. The sources of the Niger River, Gambia River, and Senegal River are all found in the Guinea Highlands. Haiti: Haiti officially the Republic of Haiti is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti ("land of high mountains") was the indigenous Taíno name for the island. Its capital is Port-au-Prince. Haitian Creole and French are the official languages.Haiti's regional, historical, and ethno-linguistic position is unique for several reasons. When it gained independence in 1804, it was the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean, the first black-led republic in the world, and the second republic in the Americas.

Its successful revolution by slaves and free people of color lasted nearly a decade; all the first leaders of government were former slaves. Haiti is the only predominantly Francophone independent nation in the Americas. It is one of only two independent nations in the Americas (along with Canada) to designate French as an official language; the other French-speaking areas are all overseas départements, or collectivités, of France. Luxembourg: Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg, French: Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, German: Großherzogtum Luxemburg), is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. It is comprised of two principal regions: the Oesling in the north as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland ("good country") in the south. Luxembourg has a population of 524,853 (as of October 2012) and an area of 1000 sq miles, making it one of the smallest sovereign nations in Europe.

Madagascar: Madagascar, officially the Republic of and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90 percent of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population. Mali: Mali officially the Republic of Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is bordered by Algeria to the north, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire to the south, Guinea to the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania to the west. Its size is just over 480,000 sq miles with a population of 14.5 million.

Its capital is Bamako.Mali consists of eight regions and its borders on the north reach deep into the middle of the Sahara, while the country's southern part, where the majority of inhabitants live, features the Niger and Sénégal rivers. The country's economic structure centers on agriculture and fishing. Some of Mali's prominent natural resources include gold, being the third largest producer of gold in the African continent, and salt. About half the population lives below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day. Mauritius:Mauritius officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 1,200 miles off the southeast coast of the African continent. The country includes the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues (560 kilometres (350 mi) east of the principal island), the islands of Agalega and the archipelago Saint Brandon. Mauritius claims sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago situated 1,287 kilometres (800 mi) to the north east; the United Kingdom excised the archipelago from Mauritian territory prior to Mauritius' independence and gradually depopulated it.

The islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues and Réunion, 170 km (110 mi) south west, form part of the Mascarene Islands. The area of the country is 2040 km2. Its capital is Port Louis. Monaco: Monaco officially the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state, located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. It is bordered by France on three sides; one side borders the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area 0.78 sq miles, and a population of 36,400, making Monaco the second smallest, and the most densely populated, country in the world. Monaco has a land border of only 4.4 km, a coastline of 4.1 km, and a width that varies between 1,700 and 349 m. The highest point in the country is a narrow pathway named Chemin des Révoires on the slopes of Mont Agel, in the Les Révoires district, which is 161 metres above sea level. Monaco's most populous Quartier is Monte Carlo, and the most populous Ward is Larvotto/Bas Moulins.

Monaco is known for its land reclamation, which has increased its size by an estimated 20%. Niger: Niger officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east. Niger covers a land area of almost 1,270,000 sq/km, making it the largest nation in West Africa, with over 80 percent of its land area covered by the Sahara desert. The country's predominantly Islamic population of 17 million is mostly clustered in the far south and west of the nation. The capital city is Niamey, located in the far-southwest corner of Niger. Republic of the Congo: The Republic of the Congo, also referred to as Congo-Brazzaville, is a country located in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Angolan exclave of Cabinda. The region was dominated by Bantu-speaking tribes, who built trade links leading into the Congo River basin.

Congo-Brazzaville was formerly part of the French colony of Equatorial Africa. Upon independence in 1960, the former colony of French Congo became the Republic of the Congo. The People's Republic of the Congo was a Marxist-Leninist single-party state from 1970 to 1991. Rwanda: Rwanda officially the Republic of Rwanda (Kinyarwanda: Repubulika y'u Rwanda; French: République du Rwanda), is a sovereign state in central and east Africa. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. All of Rwanda is at high elevation, with a geography dominated by mountains in the west, savanna in the east, and numerous lakes throughout the country. The climate is temperate to subtropical, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons every year. Senegal: Senegal officially the Republic of Senegal is a country in West Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north.

Senegal is externally bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south; internally it almost completely surrounds the Gambia, namely on the north, east and south, except for Gambia's short Atlantic coastline. Senegal covers a land area of almost 76,000 sq miles, and has an estimated population of about 13 million. The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. Seychelles:Seychelles officially the Republic of Seychelles is a 115-island country spanning an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, some 930 miles east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar. Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agaléga and Réunion to the south, and Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest. Seychelles, with an estimated population of 86,000, has the smallest population of any African state. It has the highest Human Development Index in Africa and the highest income inequality in the world, as measured by the Gini index.

Seychelles is a member of the African Union. Switzerland: Switzerland officially the Swiss Confederation, is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western and Central Europe,[note 4] where it is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Togo: Togo is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately 22,000 sq miles with a population of approximately 6.7 million.Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with a climate that provides good growing seasons. Togo is one of the smallest countries in all of Africa. The official language is French, with many other languages spoken in Togo, particularly those of the Gbe family. The largest religious group in Togo are those with indigenous beliefs, and there are significant Christian and Muslim minorities.

Togo is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie and Economic Community of West African States. Vanuatu: Vanuatu officially the Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. Vanuatu was first inhabited by Melanesian people. The first Europeans to visit the islands were a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de Queirós, who arrived in Espiritu Santo in 1605; he claimed the archipelago for Spain and named it Espiritu Santo (the Spanish term for Holy Spirit). In the 1880s France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the country, and in 1906 they agreed on a framework for jointly managing the archipelago as the New Hebrides through a British–French Condominium. An independence movement arose in the 1970s, and the Republic of Vanuatu was founded in 1980. Offices worldwide to serve you! Language Marketplace Inc.

Translation USA Toll Free: 1-888-918-5455 Seychelles, Religion and Social Profile | National Profiles | International Data | TheARDA Indexes 3 Government Regulation of Religion Index: Average government regulation score over ARDA researchers' coding of 2003, 2005 and 2008 U.S. Department of State's International Religious Freedom Reports (0-10, lower means less regulation) Government Favoritism of Religion Index: Average government favoritism score over ARDA researchers' coding of 2003, 2005 and 2008 U.S. Department of State's International Religious Freedom Reports (0-10, lower means less favoritism) Social Regulation of Religion Index: Average social regulation score over ARDA researchers' coding of 2003, 2005 and 2008 U.S. Department of State's International Religious Freedom Reports (0-10, lower means less regulation) Religious Persecution: Average number of people physically abused or displaced due to their religion according to U.S.

Department of State's 2005 and 2008 International Religious Freedom Reports (as coded by ARDA researchers). 0 = None; 1 = 1-10; 2 = 11-20; 3 = 21-100; 4 = 101-500; 5 = 501-1000; 6 = 1001-5000; 7 = 5001-10000; 8 = 10001-50000; 9 = 50001-100000; 10 = greater than 100000. History Seychelles, officially the Republic of Seychelles, is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The 115-island country, whose capital is Victoria, lies 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland Southeast Africa. Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west and Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, Rï¿½union and Mauritius to the south.

Seychelles, with a population of 90,024, has the smallest population of any African state. Seychelles is a member of the African Union. Sources Note: All country histories and flags were obtained from Wikipedia.org, 2015. ( ) 1. Relying on agencies from each country, as well as a synthesis of data from United Nations divisions, Eurostate Demographic statistics, the U.S. Census international database, and its own data collection, the World Bankï¿½s Open Data site offers free and open access to data about development in countries around the globe. 2. The U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report is submitted to Congress annually by the Department of State in compliance with Section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. This report supplements the most recent Human Rights Reports by providing additional detailed information with respect to matters involving international religious freedom. It includes individual country chapters on the status of religious freedom worldwide. A dataset with these and the other international measures highlighted on the country pages can be downloaded from this website. These State Department reports are open source. 3.

The article by Brian Grim and Roger Finke describes the coding of the U.S. State Departmentï¿½s International Religious Freedom reports . The 2003, 2005, and 2008 reports were coded by researchers at the Association of Religion Data Archives. The GRI, GFI and SRI values reported on the National Profiles are averages from the 2003, 2005, and 2008 International Religious Freedom reports, while the Religious Persecution measure is an average from the 2005 and 2008 reports. All other measures derived from the International Religious Freedom reports were coded from the reports 2008. A data file with all of the 2008 coding , as well as data files with other cross national collections are available for preview and download from the data archive on this site. Used with permission.

Stay Connected Visiting The Seychelles: Six Things You Need To Know - Gadling Gadling Sign up for our newsletters Gadling by Chris Owen on Jul 11, 2012 The Seychelles is a beautiful country of 115 granite and coral islands, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Located 932 miles east of Africa and 1135 miles northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, getting there takes some work. A transit point for trade between Africa and Asia, the Seychelles islands are known for their pristine beaches and untouched nature reserves that make a visit worthwhile. The main attraction- No trip to the Seychelles is complete without a visit to the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Located on Praslin Island (pictured), this is the only place in the world to find the rare coco de mer palm and home to rare birds such as the Seychelles bulbul, fruit pigeon and the black parrot.What to do- Pristine and uncrowded beaches, some framed by age-old granite boulders, offer powder-soft sands, turquoise waters and good opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing or pure relaxation.

Artists’ studios, national reserves, marine parks, water sports, golf, horse-riding and guided nature tours show travelers some of the rarest species of flora and fauna on earth. Getting there- Air Seychelles is the national carrier, operating non-stop scheduled flights from Mauritius and South Africa (Johannesburg) into Mahé International Airport. Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates also provide flights to various destinations through their hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Language- Languages spoken in the Seychelles are Seychellois Creole , English and French, all of which share the title of being the official language of government and business. Tourist areas are most commonly English-speaking. Local currency- The GB Pound Sterling (£), the US Dollar (US$) and the Euro (€) are all accepted, as well as some other major international currencies. Exchanging foreign currency into Seychelles Rupees can only be done at banks, authorized money dealers at the Seychelles International Airpor t, or with a hotel cashier. Staying there- A wide range of new and refurbished hotels, Creole guesthouses and exclusive island retreats are currently on 16 of Seychelles 115 islands.

Other islands are expected to develop hotel facilities in the near future, which could be good or bad, depending on how one views tourism and all it brings. Seychelles, with an estimated population of 86,000, has the smallest population of any African state but this week celebrated its 100,000th visitor to arrive in the islands for 2012. Also this week, Air Seychelles celebrated the arrival of its first Airbus A330-200 aircraft, named Aldabra in honor of Aldabra island , a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Seychelles’ most remote and pristine islands. One more thing you need to know: “ How to Visit Seychelles on a Budget ” by Gadling’s Alex Robertson Textor. Update, July 27th 2012: Quinn and & Co, the firm that handles PR for Etihad, reached out to tell us that Air Seychelles also flies into Abu Dhabi from Mahé. [Flickr photo by MrFederico ] Seychelles Seychelles Languages: Creole and English (official) Population: Abt.

90,000 GDP per capita: 11,711 in 2011 GDP current US$: 1 in 2011 Ease of Business Ranking: 74 in 2013 Seychelles, officially the Republic of Seychelles, is a 115-island country spanning an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar. Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agaléga and Réunion to the south, and Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest. Seychelles, with an estimated population of 86,525, has the smallest population of any African state. It has the highest Human Development Index in Africa and the highest income inequality in the world, as measured by the Gini index. Seychelles is a member of the African Union.

Source : Wikipedia Seychelles - April Vokey Seychelles Written by April Vokey | April 13, 2012 This January I boarded the Air Canada aircraft and settled in for a long flight. Two and a half days of travel, 30 hours of actual air time, several airline transfers and a whole lot of hectic running were what I was to expect in my near future. Knowing this, I settled into my fleece-lined sweats and dove into Bob Hooton’s ‘Skeena Steelhead’ book (a must read by the way… review to come). I was on my way to Alphonse Atoll in the Seychelles to meet with South African friend and Alphonse fishing guide, James Christmas from For those who are unfamiliar, Seychelles is an island country consisting of 115 islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 930 miles off the coast of Africa (northeast of the island of Madagascar). With a population of just over 86,000 people, Seychelles has the smallest population of any African state.

It is a famous saltwater destination… one that had been on my bucket list from the day I first learned of it from a highschool friend whose Dad was from an island nearby. James had been able to take a week off from guiding and together the two of us planned to stalk the vast flats and try our luck at Seychellois giant trevally, milkfish and permit. James’ photos had been torturing me for the year leading up to my arrival… as a result, I had been preparing for equally as long. For now, I just had to get there… The flight itinerary was relatively straightforward; Vancouver BC to London, London to Dubai, Dubai to Mahe Seychelles, Mahe Seychelles to Alphonse Atoll. Having peppered James with questions, I learned that an atoll is the result of the gradual sinking of a volcanic island that has long since cooled, leaving behind an open crater in the middle section of the island. As it begins to sink, the surrounding territory of the island falls beneath the surface of the water.

At the same time, the coral reef that is found around the fringes of the island remains and gradually is built up through the natural practice of the accumulation of marine organisms that become part of the reef. This creates a barrier reef around the remaining section of the island, forming the perfect conditions for the development of a lagoon. Amazingly, though these coral reefs account for only 0.2% of the ocean floor, they contain over 25% of the known marine species (which is why their protection is so important). More on this soon. Slides courtesy of the ICS. London was a quick switchover and before I knew it I was on my way to Dubai. I didn’t know what to expect of Dubai. In fact, to be completely honest, the extent of my knowledge came from the last ‘Sex and the City’ movie which showcased a desert, Vegas infused, shopping town. I was unable to experience Dubai outside the airport… but the emphasis that I saw in the shopping there was enough to encourage me to keep my distance. The serenity of silent flats were increasingly gaining appeal.

The boarding call to Seychelles woke me from my tired haze and I excitedly boarded the flight amongst giggling, summer-dressed clad newlyweds. My hot sweats, fleece Patagonia hoody, and rod tubes held the eyes of confused passengers and I kept my hat low to avoid conversation; it had been a long few days and I was certain I couldn’t have smelled my finest. It was dark outside, peering off the wings of our aircraft… I counted down the hours of nightfall, ready for that magnificent moment where the sun appears and the reflection of light blue water fills the plane with brightness and exuberant passenger energy. I awoke to the orange glow of sun dancing on my eyelids, the welcoming smell of coffee and a smiling Emirates attendant. Peering outside, there she was… a lone island, mountain laden and dressed in crashing waves. It was paradise… Sey6 The view even from our landing spot had me in shock… stumbling down the stairs, I clutched the handrail and shielded my eyes from the intrusive glare. Mountains? Mountains!? Mountains and saltwater fishing together?

I had found heaven… My stomach fluttered and turned in excitement while waiting in the customs line and I grinned as the serious man stamped my passport routinely. I had given myself a couple of days to relax into island life before chartering out to Alphonse and James had arranged for me to stay with a local family until my departure to the atoll. Rushing immediately to the airport restroom to change into something less… Canadian, I found a pair of shorts and hit the streets. Flagging down a smiling cab driver, we negotiated rates and I hired him for the next five hours to show me the island; off the beaten path. He politely answered my questions, wore his wedding ring proudly and spoke highly of his children. I took him for a cup of coffee at a downtown shop and quietly decided if I would trust him to show me around. He passed my interview and the two of us hit the road. We picked guava off roadside fruit trees, peeled cinnamon bark off healthy trunks, explored tea and lemongrass fields… Checked out some history… Drove to the top of a mountain… Checked out pig rock and explored the beach.

He picked up some dried pork rinds (he called them pork crackling) and together the two of us shared our stories, lives and cultures (they eat fruit bat!) I was shocked at how much of a French influence inhabited the Island. English, French and Creole were the languages of most of the residents and I was thankful for the small amount of French I learned while in high school. Our time passed before I knew it and he kindly dropped me off at Neela’s and Jules’ place (my hosts while in town). Their house was located on a steep mountain overlooking the city, just past the most spectacular graveyard I had ever seen. That night I took Neela and Jules out to dinner (where I adamantly expressed my desire to try fruit bat, which to my dismay was not available on the menu). The kind couple explained that they lived 20 to 30 minutes (walking distance) to the downtown area and that if I woke early I could make it to the marketplace in time to see the fresh fish harvested by local anglers. I set my alarm for 6am, but was up by 5:00 anxiously waiting for the sun to rise.

I grabbed my runners and made the trek down the vibrant graveyard, reading tombs, thankful that each tomb was inscribed with lengthy dates. Reaching the bottom of the hill, I followed the brackish river to where I could see a gathering of buildings. The island police station. I followed the signs (thankful to be back on the kilometer system)… And soon found myself downtown. There were fresh fruit, vegetables, jams, spices, fish and goodies everywhere! I pulled out my wallet and bought some groceries. After weighing myself down with as many bags as I could carry, I checked out some other interesting structures on my way back to the house. …And then played with all my new purchases. The next afternoon, I boarded a small aircraft that was destined to Alphonse. In it was myself, four guests and several resort staff… We were a relatively quiet bunch and I squirmed uncomfortably as heavy “smoke” began to fill the aisle. My eyes jolted from person to person, hoping that I wasn’t the only one seeing this disaster unfold. Fortunately, the silence was broken and a kind voice explained the condensation.

It was good for a laugh and soon enough all anglers came to meet, genuinely partaking in friendly introductions. Soon after we landed, I came to learn that Alphonse is occupied by one fishing/scuba lodge and is virtually inaccessible to all other flights outside of those pre-arranged by the lodge (as set with the Seychellois government.) The Alphonse Island resort is a five star lodge and is notably distinguished as a major conservation activist inclusive of an ICS (Island Conservation Society) office consisting of two kind and dedicated conservation staff; Aurelie and Richard, who live on the island for a large part of the year (they are angels in disguise in my personal opinion). Their list of duties are endless and they’ve generously lent me slides from their PowerPoint project to share with you, in hopes that we may be able to raise awareness to shark finning and pollution. They refuse to use plastic water bottles for fear of adding to an increasingly alarming pollution problem. They educated me on the North Pacific Gyre and its Great Pacific Garbage Patch; the world’s largest garbage mound, said to be twice the size of Hawaii.

Birds and other creatures feed on bits of plastic that they mistake as food, and their carcasses clearly show that this is a serious dilemma. Shark finning is another gut-wrenching disaster that’s been affecting the ecosystems in the deep blue. I felt helpless but personally committed to never engaging in a dinner at a restaurant who supports such atrocious ethics (often times illegally). I was appalled when I learned of the endangering of sharks that the Seychelles saw several years ago when boats came in and virtually wiped the system out. Without sharks, the entire marine ecosystem is in danger… I was surprised to find out that the lodge also abides by a single, barbless hook mentality (which is a rarity amongst saltwater organizations), as well as educates anglers on how to not hold fish under their bellies where harm can be inflicted on vital organs. I felt like a school-girl, surrounded by like-minded folk! I settled into my cabana and tried to control myself from jumping on the bed with excitement. James met me with a warm, welcoming hug and all 6’4 of him was gentle and trustworthy.

I trusted this man… I trusted him with my first permit, my secrets, and with all of those bull sharks around, I even trusted him with my life. We unpacked my gear and prepped for the next morning. I was set up with Rio’s tarpon and large game fly lines, and I had confidence that they could hold a giant “Geet” (as the guides refer to Giant Trevally), should they have the opportunity. As with all of my saltwater trips, Mike Rice of had tied me a custom order of bonefish, permit and geet flies that overflowed my boxes. I awoke bright and early the next morning to ride my bike to catch the Mother Ship before she departed… I rode carefully and watched the road for any passing tortoises acting as speedbumps. A string of flats boats drifted behind the large ship and I chuckled at the names on each of them. The warm wind on my face was glorious and James and I sat on the bow of the boat, dangling our feet and enjoying the scenery. Half an hour later, we anchored the large ship and all of us hopped into our designated flats boats.

James gave me the safety drill…with concern, I asked about the pirates that I had heard so much about. For the last few years, pirates, hijackings and ransoms had been a major issue in the depths of the Indian Ocean. Somali pirates, ungoverned, broke and hungry, were tormenting the sea and preying on unprotected vessels who might be carrying precious cargo (or people). James explained that as long as we stayed within the Seychellois boundary line, we would be under the care of the Seychellen government (meaning they would pay our ransom). It was clear however, that atolls outside of this jurisdiction would be left unaided. I was beginning to understand why some of the other operations were temporarily abandoned. We secured all rods and gear and raced off to a nearby bonefish flat. James laughed as I found entertainment in virtually everything my eyes rested on. He taught me to scan my eyes from right to left, as I would focus better on shadows and movement in the ocean’s glare. This made sense, as with reading our eyes are so accustomed to scanning left to right, that we often lose the attention to detail so necessary in flats fishing.

We played with some bones and warmed ourselves up for some geets and permit. With the skunk off of us, we jetted off to the surf to try our luck at some incoming trevally. We strolled awkwardly on the jagged rocks, when suddenly James stopped and pointed into the water. “What is it?” I asked. In his soft South African tone, he responded, “There, do you see it?” He was pointing at a rock. I was blind… “The rock?” Water broke the surface around it and it looked just like all rocks I had seen in the ocean. He smiled warmly and crept over to the small boulder, carefully picking it up from its underside. To my delight, little fins fanned on either side of it and a large puffer fish rested in his hand. Shocked, I squealed with glee! It sat calm and “unpuffed” and I just ached to hold it. “Just keep your fingers away from its teeth”, James warned. From here, we headed to the surf and glared through the dark day for a hopeful glimpse of a feeding trevally. The surf’s strength was unexpected and I stumbled each time it hit me.

As I was bowled over, soaking wet and unsteady, James’ tall frame handled the waves with ease and I tried to learn from him. He leaned into the white water and didn’t fight the force. He used his Patagonia Stormfront dry bag (the guide bag of choice in the Seychelles) as a flotation device and he allowed it to lift him through the water. He instructed me to wait for a large wave to push and then directed me to cast into the momentary white froth that lay slack and flat in anticipation of the next wave. I cast one of his famous NYAP (Not Your Average Popper) flies into the foam and vigorously stripped it back in towards myself. Unexpectedly, a large bluefin trevally annihilated the fly and I froze in shock. James gasped and I promised never to freeze up again. That night, we went back to James’ cabana where we tied flies until my eyes glazed over. His tying material collection was extensive and he tied a mean permit crab. The next day, we hit the flats in search of the elusive Seychelle permit. As the tide pushed out, large square tails broke the water’s surface and James explained to me that these were feeding trigger fish.

I cast a crab tied the night before at the oblivious fish and slowly stripped back in. The fish stopped, turned, and focused on my crab pattern; it was fish on! Through the coral it raced and James screamed at me to run and keep my line out of the abrasive ocean floor. My prize was a beauty of a Giant Triggerfish. With colors that shone through the dull day, I had to admire the abstract characteristics of the creature. James pushed his fingers on the topside of what looked to be a dorsal fin (the trigger, hence the name); it was hard and didn’t budge. Gently repositioning his hand, James pushed the trigger from the underside and the trigger fin collapsed with ease. Its teeth were sharp and intimidating, designed to bite through coral… It was lovely in the most unique way. We spent the rest of the day pursuing geets and tailing permit. The permit were uneasy, but they allowed me the occasional shot. We stalked them slowly and I held my breath, frantically trying to clear my line from the water to make the tricky casts. The weather was rough and the wind pushed strong. We eyed up an incoming black cloud and desperately tried to hook up before being caught in the fast approaching storm.

Rejected, rejected, rejected. I managed to get an “eat” but couldn’t manage to hook up. I hung my head in disappointment but continued to cast despite the now overhead thundering of lightning. For fear of electrocution, we sat low in the water and prepared to wait out the storm. It felt like forever and the fish teased us further by tailing directly beside us. We risked the dangers and made several casts to them while seated, before a deafening skyward boom coaxed me to wait until the gloom had passed. The next day, James and I were greeted with a welcoming sun and the two of us were in high spirits as the rays warmed our faces. Again we were off to the surf where we would use the light to our advantage to sight giant geets rolling in through the waves. As we walked through the sandy beach towards a large abandoned shipwreck, James and I halted as three gigantic permit tails assaulted the water’s surface. I felt my knees weaken and I clung to James… “Are those….!?” I felt the world silence around me as I focused on what could only belong to three huge permit. “Oh my… they are…” He whispered, his eyes not shifting from the commotion.

We crept low and silently towards them… each step careful not to make a disruption. Then the inevitable happened; the soft bottom turned to hard, crunching coral. James’ size enormous feet simply couldn’t continue with me any further without spooking the monsters, and he gave me the look of a mother saying goodbye to her child as he coaxed me to proceed without him. The next half hour must have been painful for James. Alone, petrified of failure, and over-anxious, I followed the permit over their terrain. My 5’5 figure and size 7 feet were useful and I utilized this to my advantage in seeking discretion. For that seemingly endless time, there was no one else… nothing else… it was me and them, waltzing, dancing together in a romance that would ultimately leave me broken hearted. They tailed high and happy; their large fork tails capturing the light, glowing with the penetrating sun, pointing downwards towards their large round bodies like golden arrows as if to say “search here for treasure”. It was beautiful. They lead right, I followed suit. They leaned left and I obliged.

They lead me like a waltzing bride and I couldn’t help but smile to myself as they dropped their tails and pushed back to sea. I had just experienced my first solo affair with some of the most beautiful fish I had ever seen. Seychelle permit glow a bright yellow and they have forever ingrained themselves in my mind. Still smiling, we headed to the surf and hoped for better luck with trevally. Stripping James’ NYAP until my fingers bled, we cast aggressively into the water near an old ship wreck hoping to “call in” some players. The waves picked me up mid cast, but none of that mattered as a large bluefin engorged my fly on the water’s surface. Half of the fight took place with my head under water and James held me afloat while I desperately tried to get my line on my reel. Eventually we landed a magnificently blue fish, its colors surreal and truly unlike anything I had ever seen before. As the tides changed, so did we, and we hopped aboard the boat in search of sting rays and nurse sharks.

Rays and sharks are often used as a giveaway to anglers pursuing giant trevally, as geets utilize the mud disturbance to hide while feeding in the flats. Spotting a large ray, James and I dropped anchor and raced to get in front of the pair. Sure enough, following suit was a nice size geet. We watched it change color from gray to black, depending on its disguising backdrop. I prepared to make the cast, foolishly not checking my ferrules. “There’s your shot! Take it!” I false cast. Once, twice… getting ready to shoot… The top half of my rod fell at my feet. “Acckkkk!!” I shrieked. By the time the pieces were back together, my opportunity had passed. James patted me on the back, supportive and kindly hiding his dismay. I knew that somehow I had to make up for this on the water the next day. The next morning I was alive with energy! It was going to be a good day; I could feel it in my blood. The morning was still and our spirits were high. We set off in search of schooling milkfish.

I had heard of the famed milkfish from saltwater enthusiasts who claimed that Seychelle milks were hard to hook. Even more trying, was the landing of such hard-pulling, fast fish. With missile shaped bodies built for speed, milkfish feed on vegetation, often surface feeding on floating plankton. The calm morning made finding these fish a little easier. We drove fast, breaking the still glass surface with the bow of our boat. James scanned the blue sea for feeding fish. He excitedly stopped the boat and instructed me to grab the Loomis NRX pre-rigged with a light green algae fly. Cast, rejected, cast, rejected… I made the cast into the path of an upcoming school and set hard to the side as a solo fish mouth encompassed my fly. It was game on. Countless jumps, 45 minutes, two shaking arms, a bruised midriff and a smiling fishing guide later, I had landed my first milk. I felt like a million bucks. The days passed faster than I cared for, and though we found time for a quick snorkel on the last day… before long I found myself on the tarmac saying my goodbyes.

Inevitably (though not disappointingly) I found myself back in the home of Neela and Jules’. Their smiling faces greeted me kindly and they advised me to clean up as we had a dinner engagement at 6:00. I was stunned… A dinner engagement? Who with? Thoughtful and generous, they had arranged a family dinner where each family would present an authentic Seychellois dish. I crossed my fingers that I would be able to try this supposedly succulent fruitbat. Welcoming me as one of their own, together we blessed the food and sat down to a perfectly executed dinner. I ate until I had no more room and tried fruitbat curry, salted fish casserole, crabapple coleslaw, blood pudding and several other delicacies. It was a feast fit for a king, following suit to a guide who treated me better than a queen. Spoiled and glowing, I sat back to digest it all; the memories, the experience, the friendships, and of course, the fruit bat… It was the perfect end to a perfect trip… April. Breaking news on Seychelles - breakingnews.com Download the free Breaking News app for faster updates, alerts and live video.

Synopsis Photo: Wikipedia Seychelles (/seɪˈʃɛlz/ say-SHELZ; French: [sɛʃɛl]), officially the Republic of Seychelles (French: République des Seychelles; Creole: Repiblik Sesel), is an archipelago and country in the Indian Ocean. The 115-island country, whose capital is Victoria, lies 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland East Africa. Other nearby island countries and territories include Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, Réunion and Mauritius to the south. With a population of roughly 92,000, it has the smallest population of any independent African state; however, it does have a larger population than the British overseas territory Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Seychelles is a member of the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations. After proclamation of independence from the United Kingdom in 1976, Seychelles has developed from a largely agricultural society to a market-based diversified economy, with agriculture being supplanted by rapidly rising service and public sectors as well as tourism.

Since 1976, per capita output has increased nearly sevenfold. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade these sectors. Today, Seychelles boasts the highest nominal per capita GDP in Africa. It is one of only a handful of countries in Africa with high Human Development Index. Despite the country's newfound economic prosperity, poverty remains widespread due to very high level of income inequality, one of the highest in the world, and low wealth distribution. Links Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar - SkyscraperCity Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar As a general reminder, please respect others and respect copyrights. Go here to familiarize yourself with our posting policy.

Page 1 of 51 Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar Seychelles: Seychelles (Listeni/seɪˈʃɛlz/ say-shelz; French: [sɛʃɛl]), officially the Republic of Seychelles (French: Rï¿½publique des Seychelles; Creole: Repiblik Sesel), is a 115-island country spanning an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar. Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar(Tanzania) to the west, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalï¿½ga and Rï¿½union to the south, and Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest. Seychelles, with an estimated population of 86,525, has the smallest population of any African state.[4] It has the highest Human Development Index in Africa and the highest income inequality in the world, as measured by the Gini index. Seychelles is a member of the African Union.

Last edited by Rain Drops; November 25th, 2013 at 05:38 AM. Posts: 18,577 Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar (Malagasy: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara [republiˈkʲan madaɡasˈkʲarə̥]; French: Rï¿½publique de Madagascar) and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90 percent of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population. Initial human settlement of Madagascar occurred between 350 BCE and 550 CE by Austronesian peoples arriving on outrigger canoes from Borneo.

These were joined around 1000 CE by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique Channel. Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into eighteen or more sub-groups of which the largest are the Merina of the central highlands. Until the late 18th century, the island of Madagascar was ruled by a fragmented assortment of shifting socio-political alliances. Beginning in the early 19th century, most of the island was united and ruled as the Kingdom of Madagascar by a series of Merina nobles. The monarchy collapsed in 1897 when the island was absorbed into the French colonial empire, from which the island regained independence in 1960. The autonomous state of Madagascar has since undergone four major constitutional periods, termed Republics. Since 1992 the nation has officially been governed as a constitutional democracy from its capital at Antananarivo.

However, in a popular uprising in 2009 the last elected president Marc Ravalomanana was made to resign and presidential power was transferred in March 2009 to Andry Rajoelina in a move widely viewed by the international community as a coup d'ï¿½tat. Posts: 18,577 Mauritius Mauritius Listeni/məˈrɪʃəs/ (French: Maurice), officially the Republic of Mauritius (French: Rï¿½publique de Maurice) is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) off the southeast coast of the African continent. The country includes the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, 560 kilometres (350 mi) east of the principal island, the islands of Agalï¿½ga and Saint Brandon. The islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues and the French department of Rï¿½union 170 km (110 mi) form part of the Mascarene Islands. The area of the country is 2040 km2, its capital is Port Louis.

I'm amazed with all the nature beauties that these countries have. __________________ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bajï¿½o ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

Question: As at 2012 what 115-island Indian Ocean nation has the smallest population (about 86,000) of any African country?
Answer: Seychelles