São Tomé Island

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Statistics
Capital:	São Tomé
Area:	854 km²
Elevation:	Lowest: Atlantic Ocean Centre: São Tomé Highest: Pico de São Tomé (2,024 m)
Population:	around 133,600
Population density:	about 36/km²
Number of districts:	6
Area/distance code:	00239-11x-xxxx? through 18x-xxxx
Name of inhabitants:	São Toméan Islander

Rainforest trekking is one of the island's attractions

São Tomé Island, at 854 km², is the largest island of São Tomé and Príncipe and is home to about 133,600 or 96% of the nation's population. This island and smaller nearby islets make up São Tomé Province, which is divided into six districts. The main island is located 2 km North of the equator. It is about 48 km long (North-South) and 32 km wide (East-West). It rises to 2,024 metres at Pico de São Tomé and includes the capital city, São Tomé, on the Northeast coast. The nearest city on mainland Africa is the port city of Port Gentil in Gabon located 240 km East.

[edit] Languages

The main language is Portuguese, but there are many speakers of Forro and Angolar (Ngola), two Portuguese-based creole languages.

[edit] Environment and economy

The higher slopes of the island are forested and form part of the Obo National Park, but agriculture is important near the north and east coasts. The chief exports are cocoa, coffee, copra, and palm products, while there is also a fishing industry.

Large reserves of oil are in the ocean between Nigeria and São Tomé. The discovery has been lamented by some as endangering the nation's political stability and natural environment. In response to these concerns the government of São Tomé and Príncipe has drawn up legislation in an attempt to ensure the efficient and equitable use of oil revenues over time.