The capital city, Victoria, is the seat of the Seychelles government and has a population of about thirty thousand - which represents just under half of the entire population of the islands. Also one of the most impressive islands of the group, it has the highest mountains in the archipelago - stretching 900 meters into the blue Seychelles skies, and setting a dramatic backdrop to more than sixty white-sand beaches. In the markets one can sample a vast selection of fresh fruit and fish, or just chat to the locals - who are always happy to tell you a tale about the "whale-sized" fish that was caught last week. Mahé is also the cultural capital of Seychelles: The Natural History Museum and The Codevar Craft Centre are located there, and local artists such as Tom Bowers and Michael Adams exhibit their work informally all over the island. The Botanical Gardens, with their fantastic collection of tropical plants, are a must for every nature lover. There are about 75 plant species native to the rain forest that are found nowhere else in the world.