!Seychelles Seychelles is a country, Region - Eastern Africa, Capital - Victoria, Population in 2003 - 81,000, Population density - 178 per sq km, Surface area - 455 and Currency - rupee. It is an island country, officially known as the Republic of Seychelles. It has a group of some 30 bigger islands (115 in all), largest Mahé (59 sq m.), situated in the Indian Ocean, 600 m. NE. of Madagascar; taken from the French by Britain in 1798, and came under the rule of the governor of Mauritius; ultimately became independent in 1976; are mountainous and mostly surrounded by coral reefs; export fibres, nuts, palm-oil, &c.; Victoria, in Mahé, is the chief town, and an imperial coaling station.