Praslin

It was named Isle de Palmes by explorer Lazare Picault in 1744. During that time it was used as a hideaway by pirates and Arab merchants. In 1768 it was renamed Praslin in honor of French diplomat César Gabriel de Choiseul, duc de Praslin. == Geography ==

Praslin is known as a tourist destination with several hotels and resorts, as well as a number of beaches such as Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette. It has substantial tracts of tropical forests with birds such as the endemic Seychelles bulbul and the Seychelles black parrot. The Vallée de Mai Nature Preserve, established in 1979, is known for the unique coco de mer and vanilla orchids. It has been reported that General Charles George Gordon of Khartoum (1833–1885), an ardent Christian cosmologist, was convinced that Vallée de Mai was the Biblical "Garden of Eden". Praslin is home to Praslin Island Airport, while surrounding islands include Curieuse Island, La Digue, Cousin Island, Cousine Island and Aride Island. There are a few near offshore islets including Round Island (0.193 km2) and Chauve Souris (0.007 km2), both of which have hotel accommodations. A large area in the south of the island has been designated as Praslin National Park and surrounding areas Important Bird Area. ==Gallery==

File:Traumstrand Anse Georgette, Praslin Seychellen (27839767139).jpg|Beach Anse Georgette, Praslin File:Beach Anse Lazio Praslin Seychelles.DNG (38720879125).jpg|Beach Anse Lazio, Praslin File:Anse Lazio Beach, Seychelles (38720921075).jpg|Beach Anse Lazio File:Coco de Mer (39638784082).jpg|Coco de Mer from Praslin File:Insel Praslin, Seychellen (38908943104).jpg|Praslin, Seychellen File:Strand Petite Anse Kerlan, Praslin Seychellen (38908986064).jpg|Beach Petite Anse Kerlan, Praslin File:Shorts360airsey.jpg|Praslin airport File:Seychelles praslin anselazio.jpg|Anse Lazio Beach on Praslin File:Seychelles bulbul.jpg|Seychelles bulbul (Hypsipetes crassirostris) on Praslin File:Valleé de mai2.jpg|The Vallée de Mai on Praslin Island, often referred to as the Garden of Eden. File:Coco de mer leafs.jpg|Coco de mer File:Praslin island seen from La Digue.JPG|Praslin seen from the east File:Praslin von Anse Sévère.jpg|View of the second largest island of the Seychelles, Praslin, from Anse Sévère, La Digue, Seychelles == See also ==