Seychelles is the only granitic island in the Indian Ocean because over a hundred million years ago Seychelles form part of the super-continent the Gondwanaland. The unique Seychelles island are of two types , granite and coral. There are 73 coral islands to the 42 granite islands. A mere two coral islands complete the group of 43 inner islands. The outer islands, the coral atolls and reef islands, are mostly untouched by modernization, intact in their natural splendour. They are classified into five groups: the Aldabra group, the Southern Coral group, the Amirantes group, the Alphonse group, and the Farquhar group.
The Seychelles has a captivating coastline of 491 km. The islands are enclosed by a dazzling myriad of sandy beaches, some internationally-renown. The spectacular sun-kissed beaches are outlined by rows of Palm trees and caressed by the turquoise sea. The profuse marine life is stunning in its diversity, and is an overwhelming sanctuary for marine devotees.
The granite atolls that make up most of the inner islands bulge up into small mountains covered with thriving forests that shelters many indigenous and endemic flora and fauna that flourish in the sultry tropical climate. The highest mountains of the major outer islands offer spectacular views of the breathtaking surrounding bays, attention-grabbing granite formations and the azure ocean that is dotted randomly by tiny islands. The highest mountain is Morne Seychellois at 905 m high with a magnificent view that even dreams cannot rival.
Mahe and Praslin, the two largest granite islands, are the most urbanized of the islands, although it does not completely take away from their magnificence. The capital city, Victoria, and the only international airport are located on Mahe, the hub of this small archipelago.