The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. [1] Seychelles accepted the convention, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list. As of 2023, there are two World Heritage Sites in Seychelles. [2]
UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural. [3]
Site | Image | Location | Year listed | UNESCO data | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aldabra Atoll | ![]() | Outer Islands | 1982 | 185; vii, ix, x (natural) | The atoll consists of four large coral islands which enclose a shallow lagoon; the group of islands is itself surrounded by a coral reef. Due to difficulties of access and the atoll's isolation, Aldabra has been protected from human influence and thus retains some 152,000 giant tortoises, the world's largest population of this reptile. [4] |
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve | ![]() | Praslin Island | 1983 | 261; vii, viii, ix, x (natural) | In the heart of the small island of Praslin, the reserve has the vestiges of a natural palm forest preserved in almost its original state. The famous coco de mer, from a palm-tree once believed to grow in the depths of the sea, is the largest seed in the plant kingdom. [5] |
Site | Image | Location | Criteria | Area ha (acre) | Year of submission | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mission Ruins of Venn's Town | | Mahé Island | Cultural (iv) (vi) | 2013 | [6] | |
Silhouette Island | ![]() | Silhouette Island | Mixed (v) (x) | 2013 | [7] |