TheSalvation Islands (French:Îles du Salut, so called because the missionaries went there to escape plague on the mainland), sometimes mistakenly^{[citation needed]} called theSafety Islands, are a group of small islands ofvolcanic^{[citation needed]} origin about 11 kilometres (6 nautical miles) off the coast ofFrench Guiana, 14 kilometres (7+1⁄2 nautical miles) north ofKourou, in theAtlantic Ocean. Although closer to Kourou, the islands are part ofCayennecommune (municipality), specificallyCayenne 1^er Canton Nord-Ouest.

There are three islands, from north to south:

Devil's Island, the most famous due to the political imprisonment there of CaptainAlfred Dreyfus, is better known to French speakers asÎle du Diable. The total area is0.62 square kilometres (1⁄4 square mile). Devil's Island and Île Royale are separated byPasse des Grenadines, Île Royale and Saint-Joseph Island byPasse de Désirade.

The climate of Salvation Islands focuses on the characteristics of Royale Island. Royale Island (French:Île-Royale) has atropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification). The average annual temperature in Royale Island is 27.6 °C (81.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,496.7 mm (98.30 in) with May as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in October, at around 28.7 °C (83.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around 26.9 °C (80.4 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Royale Island was 34.8 °C (94.6 °F) on 10 November 2008; the coldest temperature ever recorded was 18.4 °C (65.1 °F) on 10 July 1979.

Between 1852 and 1953, the islands were part ofa notorious penal colony for the worst criminals of France. The penal colony stretched along the border withSuriname.Île Royale was the reception centre for the general population of the penal colony; they were housed in moderate freedom due to the difficulty of escape from the island. Saint-Joseph Island was theReclusion, where inmates were sent to be punished bysolitary confinement in silence and darkness for escapes or offences committed in the penal colony. Devil's Island was for political prisoners. In the 19th century, the most famous such prisoner was CaptainAlfred Dreyfus, held there from 1895 to 1899 after his conviction in mainland France fortreason.

This penal colony was controversial given its reputation for harshness and brutality. Prisoner upon prisoner violence was common, tropical diseases killed many, and a small core of broken survivors returned to France to tell how horrible it was and scare other potential criminals. This system was gradually phased out and ended completely in 1953. Nowadays the islands are a popular tourist destination. The islands were featured in the autobiographyPapillon, byHenri Charrière, who was imprisoned there for 9 years.Joseph Conrad's short storyAn Anarchist (1906) is largely set in Salvation Islands.^[3]

As of 1979, the Salvation Islands areprotected areas managed byConservatoire du littoral.^[4]

• 
  Royal Island.
• 
  Arrival on Royal Island.
• 
  The Salvation Islands' Lighthouse.
• 
  Saint Joseph Island's beach.
• 
  Devil's Island.
• 
  Alfred Dreyfus's House.

• Map (archived 21 December 2006)
• Photos des Îles du SalutArchived 2007-03-18 at theWayback Machine(in French)
• Photos de Île RoyaleArchived 2008-02-28 at theWayback Machine
• Photos de Île Saint-JosephArchived 2008-02-28 at theWayback Machine

5°17′09″N52°35′09″W / 5.28583°N 52.58583°W /5.28583; -52.58583

• Atlantic islands of French Guiana
• Cayenne
• Islands of the North Atlantic Ocean
• Protected areas of French Guiana
• Tourist attractions in French Guiana

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