Frégate Island
Frégate Island (French: île de Frégate) is an island in Seychelles. The island is the easternmost of the granitic Inner Islands of the Seychelles (55 km (34 mi) east of Mahé). It is 2.07 square kilometres (0.80 square miles) and is primarily known for the Oetker Collection's secluded private luxury resort which funds an environmental programme to restore habitat and protect rare species. The beach on the island, Anse Victorin, often voted as "The World's Best Beach" by The Times.
Frégate Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Seychelles |
| Coordinates | 4°35′48″S 55°56′48″E |
| Archipelago | Inner Islands, Seychelles |
| Adjacent to | Indian Ocean |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Major islands |
|
| Area | 2.07 km2 (0.80 sq mi) |
| Length | 1.6 km (0.99 mi) |
| Width | 1.8 km (1.12 mi) |
| Coastline | 6.35 km (3.946 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 125 m (410 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Signal |
| Administration | |
Seychelles | |
| Group | Inner Islands |
| Sub-Group | Granitic Seychelles |
| Districts | La Digue and Inner Islands |
| Island Group | Frégate Group |
| Largest settlement | Frégate village (pop. ~150) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 214 (2014) |
| Pop. density | 103.4/km2 (267.8/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Creole, French, East Africans, Indians. |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone |
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| ISO code | SC-01 |
| Official website | www |
It was also named CNN Travel Top 10 beaches.
It was named by explorer Lazare Picault after the abundance of frigate birds on the island. A modernisation programme in 2014 improved its sustainability infrastructure with a water bottling plant and state of the art energy generators, and also the renovation of 16 villas.
The island is covered with takamaka, cashew and Indian almond trees. After 200 years of intensive agricultural practices during the plantation era (which almost completely cleared the native woodland), the conservation team are restoring the natural habitat and have replanted over 10,000 indigenous trees including the very rare Wrights Gardenia, as well as the Indian Mulberry. The conservation programme has saved the Seychelles magpie robin from extinction; in 1980 the species numbered 14, yet in 2016 they numbered over 120.
The beaches are a nesting habitat for two species of sea turtle: the critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle and the endangered Green Turtle. Over 2,200 Aldabra giant tortoises roam free over the island. It also has endemic species including the flightless Fregate Island giant tenebrionid beetle, Fregate Island Enid snail, and some species of millipedes.