Santiago, Cape Verde

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Santiago - Cape Verde
Elevation: 1,394 m (Pico d'Antónia)
Latitude: 15.077 (15°4'40 N)
Longitude: 25.624 (25°37'29" W)
Length: 75 km (north to south)
Width: 35 km (west to east)
Area: 991 km²
Population: around 240,000
Location: Cape Verde Islands
Municipalities: Praia, São Domingos, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, São Miguel e Tarrafal
Range: Serra de Malagueta (1,063 m)
Type: N/A

Santiago (Portuguese for "Saint James"), or Santiagu in the local Bádiu language, is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nation's population.

Santiago is located between the islands of Maio (40 km west) and Fogo (50 km east) and is one of the Sotavento, it was the first of the islands to be settled, the town of Cidade Velha being founded as Riberia Grande in 1462. It is also home to the nation's capital city of Praia and to one of the islands' two international airports including Francisco Mendes 2 km from the capital (IATA airport code: RAI, Praia). The island population has doubled from the independence of Cape Verde in 1975. Other towns on the island include Assomada and Tarrafal. The main industries are agriculture, tourism, fishing, others and leastly manufacturing. Main agricultural products are corn, sugar cane, banana, coffee and mangoes.

Other parts of the island include Cidade Velha, 15 km west of Praia, Cape Verde's first capital, others include Assomada, 60 km north and Tarrafal in the northern part of the island 75 km from the capital.

Contents

[edit] History

Pelourinho. Cidade Velha.
Enlarge
Pelourinho. Cidade Velha.

The island was discovered by António da Noli in around 1460 and built a garrison in Cidade Velha which was then known as Ribeira Grande. The local Crioulos are the oldest African-European community in colonial history, and the local creole language, called Crioulo de Santiago or Bádiu, became a separate language. Transcontinental slavery made Cidade Velha the second richest city in the Portuguese realm. Portugal was unable to protect its colonies because the English, Dutch, French and Spanish took over the slave trade and the island was later raided by pirates. In 1712, the capital no longer served Cidade Velha which was attacked by pirates and was moved to the Praia plateau. The island population were disadvantaged by the Portuguese colonial system and supported Amilcar Cabral and the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde and the independence of 1975. Santiago several times host ed conferences on Creole culture.

Since the independence of Cape Verde, infrastructure has improved, especially schools, ports, airports, roads, etc.

[edit] Settlements

[edit] Sporting teams

Main article: Santiago Island League (North)
Main article: Santiago Island League (South)


[edit] External links


Islands of Cape Verde Flag of Cape Verde
Island Groups
Barlavento | Sotavento
Islands

Boa Vista | Brava | Fogo | Maio | Sal | Santa Luzia | Santiago | Santo Antão | São Nicolau | São Vicente
Islets
Branco | Ilhéu dos Passaros | Ilhéu do Rabo de Junco | Razo | Ilhéu de Sal-Rei | Ilhéu Secos (Ilhéu de Cima | Ilhéu Grande)
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