Amirante Islands: Difference between revisions

The Amirantes were discovered by [[Vasco da Gama]] on his [[4th Portuguese India Armada (Gama, 1502)|second voyage]] of exploration in 1503, and later named "Ilhas do Almirante" (Admiral Islands). Previous knowledge of the islands by Arab and Indian traders is possible. The islands were claimed by Sieur Michel Blin for [[France]] in 1802. By the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)]], the islands were passed officially to the British, as a part of [[Mauritius]]. In 1909, the [[Seychelles]] became a separate colony, thereby including the Amirantes. On 8 November 1965 the United Kingdom split [[Desroches Island|Île Desroches]] from the Seychelles to become part of the newly created [[British Indian Ocean Territory]]. The purpose was to allow the construction of a military base for the mutual benefit of the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States]]. On 23 June 1976 [[Desroches Island|Île Desroches]] was returned to the Seychelles as a result of itthe latter attaining independence.