Vallée de Mai,
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Seychelles
Vallée de MaiVisited: July 2003 More pictures of Vallée de Mai:
These pictures have been tagged with the following tags (clicking on the tag will take you to all pictures on this site with that tag) Africa detail green leaf Seychelles Vallée de Mai trees tropical forest waterfall palmtree fruit greySearchSearch pages at Traveladventures.org Go directly to:Travel picturesYou can travel the world using images - select your preferred language below:  |  |  |  |  |  MailinglistIf you want to be updated regularly about new stories and pictures: Google EarthClick your way around Seychelles with pictures (needs Google Earth software) Visual GeographyAdvertiseIt is possible to advertise on this travel site. Travel advertisers, ask for more information! SurveyIs there a difference between a traveler and a tourist? View Results |
In a remote past, Praslin island was completely covered by coco de mer palm trees, but as in so many other places on the earth, humans largely changed the face of the island. The World Heritage site of Vallée de Mai has been restored as an area where plants and trees grow and flourish freely. As you approach the entrance from the road, the abundance of life is obvious. Trees are everywhere, the earth is permanently covered by fallen leaves, you see birds everywhere, while you hear a delicate waterfall cutting through the green wall.
Walking around inside the park is a joy for the senses and makes you feel a dwarf. The coco de mer tree is the main attraction of the park, there are around 4000 of them, and they are huge! The tallest tree can reach up to 30 metres, the leaves can grow up to being 6 metres wide and 14 metres long. Truly giant palm trees! As we entered, a wind was blowing through the top of the trees, causing them to accompany us with a continuous clattering sound. The base of the palm tree is so stable that it keeps the palm straight, even under tropical rains and storms. Realizing the natural power emanating from these giants, and their age (over 200 years), makes you feel humble and respectful.
The large leaves prove especially useful when it is raining, when they naturally transform into giant umbrellas. The trees are most famous, though, for their nuts. As might be expected, they are large, too. One of these enormous fruits can weigh up to 20 kilograms, which makes it the heaviest nut in the world. Its fame, however, comes mainly from its erotic connotations, form, and supposedly aphodisiacal effects. It has even been thought that the Seychelles were the original Garden of Eden, because of the nuts.
