Devil's Island is one of the three Iles du Salut in French Guyana, just north of Brazil. All of these islands and part of the nearby mainland were a French prison complex from the time of Napoleon III until 1947. Because of strong ocean currents, Devil's Island was considered escape-proof. It housed political prisoners and serious criminals, many of which never were able to return to France. Now there are some efforts to restore the prison ruins and encourage tourism.