Mahé
is the principal island comprising of 142 sq km, with the
islands of Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette being the next
important . Situated about 1,600 km off the east coast of
Africa, Mahe extends 27 km north to south and 11 km east to west
and has a coastline of 127 km.
Mahé possesses
white sandy beaches which, for a distance of 200 or 300 years,
are flats of coral and shell known locally as plateaus, although
they rarely achieve an elevation of more than 10 ft above sea
level. Small streams descending the mountain slopes deposit
alluvial material, creating the most fertile soils on the
island.