Bancs de Sable Island is a small, uninhabited island located in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar. The name “Sable” comes from the flamingos that inhabit the island, which are known for their black and white plumage. The island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 for its unique natural environment and the sediments deposited there by the Agalega Current.
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History
The island was first encountered by Europeans in the early 16th century, when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama sighted it on his voyage to India. It remained uninhabited until the 18th century, when a small French settlement was established there. The British took control of the island in 1814 following the Napoleonic Wars, and developed it as a penal colony. The population rose from fewer than 100 prisoners to more than 1, 000 between 1818 and 1930. The inhabitants are of Malagasy, Mozambiquean and Portuguese descent.
Climate
The climate is tropical, with a moderate year-round temperature. The island experiences two seasons: the dry season, from November to April; and the wet season, which lasts from May to October. Plant life
The main ecosystem consists of tropical forest, but other habitats include scrubland, open grasslands and swamps. The trees are mainly coconut palm (“Cocos nucifera”), many species have been introduced by the French. As for animal life, there is a rich diversity: about 60% of the fauna is endemic to Madagascar; 30% are African in origin; and 10% Pacific Ocean sponge-divers (“Isabela terceiraae”), a marine-mammal that falls prey to the larvae of parasitic copepods. Sable Island is home to almost 300 bird species, including great and rare reminders such as Madagascar herons, red-billed kites, gulls and terns which are rare in their natural ranges.
Culture
The island has a traditional farming lifestyle as well as an active pursuit of crafts, including weaving and pottery. There is also a tradition of music-making and storytelling. Outside, the inhabitants still stage annual feast days in December (Islanders’ Day) and June (Schoolchildren’s Day). The island also has a cultural association called the “Association Les Amis de la Colonie des Sables”, with some 600 descendants of European colonists living on the island.
Politics
The island is administered by the Prefecture of Haute-Terre, which has its seat in Toulon. The inhabitants are French citizens. Sanctuary
The protected area of 2,350 hectares consists mainly of a plateau surrounded by mangroves and supporting vegetation typical of the south-east coast: bamboo forest, climbing orchids (Ophrys sp.), Bambusa sp. and palms (“Syagrus” spp.). The zone is a breeding place for hundreds if not thousands of birds from Madagascar , including 26 species endemic to the island itself. Other terrestrial fauna include lemurs, frogs and reptiles.
Government Services
The island is serviced by the Toulon-Havana air route. Most communications with the administration centre at Toulon is of a coastguard nature. The airstrip, built in 2006 has frequent flights to Antsiranana and Tananarive along with several aircraft charter services throughout Madagascar. It also can be reached via boat or plane through the Indian Ocean routes used by Dakar-Madagascar Airlines , Air Madagascar or airline operators in South Africa.
Tourism
The island has been a destination for both day-trips from the mainland and overnight stays. Cap d’Antibes is one of the main centres in France for tourism to the Island, with almost all types of accommodation on offer. In 2009 there were about 4,000 visitors staying at hotels and camping sites. Mangrove kayaking is easy and many tourists enjoy walking along the beach.
There are many local restaurants and bars catering for visitors on the island. There is some fishing activity but the large majority of villagers earn their living from growing corn, rice and millet in fields that exist only due to natural erosion as they have been abandoned by previous generations because modern farming methods returned very low yields.
Transport
The island is only reachable by plane or boat. The airport can be reached by Aigle Azur Air, a regional airline which offers regular flights to Antsiranana and Tananarive in Madagascar as well as services to other African cities. Boats depart regularly from Cap d’Antibes harbour for Nosy Be, the administrative capital of the Comoros .
Cuisine
There is a great variety of cuisine on the island, including seafood such as lobster and crab. The most famous dish is gâteau à la corne d’abondance (cake with abundant horns), which can be found in many restaurants. Because of the scarcity or absence of sugar and salt, meat (including antelope) is cooked in bitter peppers to prevent scurvy. The population of the island increased rapidly from 1965 to 2010 due to more settlers arriving and also because many young people were abandoning farming for work elsewhere.
The main crops in the island are: corn, (maize), millet , rice and sorghum . Main food consists of rice and other grains, fish (herring), mussels, sardines. Traditionally a local dish called “pô-por” made up of maize was eaten at feast days accompanied by an alcoholic beverage distilled from fermented corn mash known as kolimpo.
Wildlife
There are no indigenous animals on the island. However, there is a small population of red pandas which were brought in from China in the 1970s as part of a breeding program. There are also rats, cats and dogs. Older legends state that the Comoran islanders came from an archipelago in Indonesia and Madagascar.
These people were settled by Arab merchants around 1500 AD on the coast of Mozambique or a relatively nearby neighboring sea, as noted when Marco Polo passed near to it nearly 900 years after its founding. The Arabs live among themselves in small semi-isolated settlements called “mazmans” (Arabic: مزمن ).
The current King of the island is Hassan II, who was deposed by a coup d’état on May 1979. The old capital is at Nizao which overlooks Onambe. Archaeological evidence dates back to 200 Bc and it has probably been settled since that date as an outpost in spice trade behind Zanzibar’s market empire until the 1400s when Mdonyangi ruled here before abandoning Comoros for unknown reasons.
Conclusion
Bancs de Sable Island is a small island located in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, east of Quebec City, Canada. It is administratively part of the borough of Levis. The island was designated a protected area in 1984.
FAQ
Who Discovered Bancs De Sable Island?
The French explorer Samuel de Champlain first sighted the island in 1603. It was originally called San Salvador (English: Holy Father) and later Sable Island.
What Is The Population Of Bancs De Sable Island?
The small island has no permanent inhabitants; it is entirely classed as a nature reserve. But during rare occurrences, researchers have documented groups of 35-50 king penguins which breed here each year in their natal grounds on South Georgia Island in Antarctic waters north east of Madagascar.
What Are The Geographical Coordinates Of Bancs De Sable Island?
The island is located at latitude 40° 26′ 20″ east and longitude 59° 3′ 8″ west during summer.
What Kind Of Vegetation Does Bancs De Sable Island Have?
The island is covered in grass, mostly grown along the coast but also contains a few heath areas. It has no shrubs or trees except for a few plant species on top of the highest hills.
What Kind Of Wild Birds Exists On The Island?
Birds found here include western rocklizard, very small local endemic species as well as many other ground and shore dwelling species.
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