Victoria, Seychelles

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. Its population was 24 970 in 2002. Although its population is only 25 000, it houses around one third of the nation's population.

It was first established as the seat of the British colonial government. Victoria is located at 4°37' South, 55°27' East (-4.61667, 55.45). [1]

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, 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.

The city is served by the Seychelles International Airport, completed in 1971.

A major bridge in Victoria was destroyed in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.