Étoile Cay

Étoile Cay is an uninhabited circular coral cay in Seychelles, lying in the Amirantes group of the Outer Islands of Seychelles, with a distance of 302 km south of Victoria, Seychelles.

For the island in Micronesia, see Etoile Island.
Étoile Cay
Nickname: Lampériaire Cay
Étoile Cay
Geography
LocationIndian Ocean
Coordinates05°53′S 53°19′E
ArchipelagoSeychelles
Adjacent bodies of waterIndian Ocean
Total islands1
Major islands
  • Étoile Cay
Area0.05 km2 (0.019 sq mi)
Length0.4 km (0.25 mi)
Width0.14 km (0.087 mi)
Coastline1 km (0.6 mi)
Highest elevation4.6 m (15.1 ft)
Administration
GroupOuter Islands
Sub-GroupAmirante Islands
DistrictsOuter Islands District
Demographics
Population0 (2014)
Pop. density0/km2 (0/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsCreole, French, East Africans, Indians.
Additional information
Time zone
ISO codeSC-26
Official websitewww.seychelles.travel/en/discover/the-islands/outer-islands

History

Étoile Cay was named after a ship used in Bougainville's famous voyage round the world, from 1766 to 1769. It was explored and named by the Chevalier du Roslan in 1771.

Geography

Étoile Cay lies 29 km northeast of Boudeuse Cay, and 32 km Southwest of Poivre Atoll. It lies on a coral reef about 1.6 km in diameter. The cay is treeless. The only vegetation is grass and low shrubs, fringed by a steep sandy beach. Landing is easy during calm weather.

Administration

The island belongs to Outer Islands District.[1]

Flora & Fauna

The island has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it is one of only three known locations in Seychelles which are nesting sites of Roseate terns (about 150 pairs). Also spotted are Sooty terns (about 5000 pairs) and Brown noddys (about 1000 pairs). All three species breed in dense colonies during the south-east monsoon season. [2] green and hawksbill sea turtles also nest there.

  • Map 1
  • District Map

References
  1. District map
  2. "Etoile Island". Important Bird Areas factsheet. BirdLife International. 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-18.


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