Devil's Island

The penal colony of Cayenne, also known as Devil's Island, operated from 1852 to 1952 and had a notorious reputation for harsh treatment of detainees and high mortality due to tropical climate and diseases, with a death rate of 75 percent at its worst. The prison system comprised several locations, including Île Royale, Saint-Joseph Island, and Devil's Island, with the latter being reserved for French political prisoners, including Captain Alfred Dreyfus. The colony was used for the exile of political prisoners, with the most famous being Dreyfus, who was accused of spying for Germany and was a central figure in the Dreyfus affair, a scandal that extended for several years in late 19th and early 20th century France.learn more on wikipedia