Bird Island, Seychelles

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Bird Iceland (French Île aux Vaches ) is the most northerly island of the Seychelles. It lies approximately 100 km from the main island of Mahé and is counted among the so-called " Northern coral islands ".

The 0.82 km ² coral island was discovered in 1756, and is home to numerous seabirds today - species and marine turtles. It was once sighted there also many manatees, what the French name Ile aux Vaches explained (Eng. "Island of the (lake) - cows ").

Because of the abundant bird population could 1896-1905 more than 17,000 tons of guano are mined and exported to Mauritius, to fertilize the local sugar cane fields.

Bird Iceland was purchased in 1967 by Michael Betts and is privately owned. On the island nest approximately 750,000 Rußseeschwalbenpaare as well as the rare tern. In addition, lives on the island supposedly oldest, largest and heaviest turtle " Esmeralda ", weigh 300 kg and 170 years old. The island is now used both for tourists and for scientific purposes (Weather Station).