Page "Amirante Islands" Paragraph 1

The Amirantes were discovered by Vasco da Gama on his second voyage of exploration in 1502, and named " Ilhas do Almirante " ( Admiral Islands ).

Previous knowledge of the islands by Arab and Indian traders is possible.

Along with the Seychelles, the islands were first claimed by France in 1742.

Formal possession was asserted in 1756.

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 November 8, 1965, the United Kingdom split Île Desroches from the Seychelles to become part of the newly created British Indian Ocean Territory.

The purpose was to allow the construction of military facilities for the mutual benefit of the United Kingdom and the United States.

On June 23, 1976, Île Desroches was returned to the Seychelles as a result of it attaining independence.