The Republic of Seychelles is an island group country in the Indian ocean north of Madagascar. It is comprised of about 115 islands and has a total area of 455 km2. The climate is tropical marine; humid; with a cooler season during south-east monsoon lasting from late May to September and a warmer season during the north-west monsoon from March to May. The terrain varies. The Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs Natural resources are fish, copra, cinnamon trees. The religion is 90% Roman Catholic, 8% Anglican, 2% other. The official language is French with English and Creole also spoken. First visited by Europeans during the 16th century, the Seychelles were claimed and settled by France in 1756 before being ceded to Britain in 1914 and gaining independence in 1976. Research Seychelles