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Desroches Island or Île Desroches is the main island of the Amirante Islands, part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. It is located 227 km southwest of Victoria, Seychelles. It is 5.5 km long and has a land area of 4.027 km2. Along its circumference of 13 km is a beach of fine sand. Conservation on the island is managed by Island Conservation Society. == History == The island was named L’ile des Roches in 1771 by la Biolière, commander of the French vessel "L’Etoile du Matin" in honour of François Julien des Roches (Chevalier des Roches), the Governor of Île de France (now Mauritius) and Île Bourbon (now Réunion) from 1767 to 1772. It was explored by the Chevalier de la Billioère in 1771. The British had originally named it Wood Island because of its dense tree vegetation. The island was an important producer of copra. in 1835 the first settlement was established Along with the remaining Amirante Islands, Desroches had been a part of the Seychelles since it became a separate colony in 1909. SOURCESWikipedia