Seychelles is the African country that contains Aldabra Atoll, the world’s second-largest coral atoll.
Aldabra lies in the southwestern Seychelles, close to the northern end of Madagascar. Its four main islands enclose a vast shallow lagoon, and the atoll’s isolation has helped preserve distinctive wildlife and habitats.
The atoll is especially famous for its large population of Aldabra giant tortoises. UNESCO designated Aldabra Atoll a World Heritage Site in 1982 because of its exceptional geology, marine environment, and endemic species.
Aldabra is not the same as the Seychelles’ better-known inner islands around Mahé. It is part of the remote outer islands, several hundred kilometers southwest of the main island group.