Victoria, Seychelles

2008/9 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Africa; Cities

Victoria
Location of Victoria on Mahé Island
Country	Seychelles
Island	Mahé
Population (2002)
- City	24,970
- Metro	72,000

Port Victoria

Victoria's centrally located clock tower

Victoria (sometimes called Port Victoria) is the capital city of the Republic of Seychelles and is situated on the north-eastern side of Mahé island, which the main island of the archipelago. 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 Little Ben 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 as follows:

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