Santiago, Cape Verde

Santiago
Native name: Santiagu
Geography
Location Atlantic Ocean
Area 991 km2 (382.6 sq mi)
Length 75 km (46.6 mi)
Width 35 km (21.7 mi)
Highest elevation 1,394 m (4,573 ft)
Highest point Pico da Antónia
Country
Cape Verde
Concelhos (Municipalities) Praia, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, São Domingos, São Lourenço dos Órgãos, São Miguel, São Salvador do Mundo, Tarrafal
Largest city Praia (pop. 124,661)
Demographics
Population 240,000
Density 242.18 /km2 (627.24 /sq mi)

Santiago (Portuguese for “Saint James”), or Santiagu in Cape Verdean Creole, is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nation’s population. At the time of Darwin's voyage it was called St. Jago.

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’ four international airports, Praia International Airport, 3 km from the capital (IATA airport code: RAI, Praia).

Contents

Geography

Santiago is the largest island of Cape Verde, with an area of 991 km². The island is mountainous, although slightly flatter in the southeast. The wetter climate of the interior and the eastern coast contrasts with the dryer one in the south/southwest coast. Praia, located in the southeast coast, is the largest city of the island, and also the largest city and capital of the country. Other towns on the island include Cidade Velha, 15 km west of Praia, Cape Verde's first capital; Assomada, 60 km north and Tarrafal in the northern part of the island 75 km from the capital.

Settlements

History

The island was discovered by António da Noli in around 1460 who built a garrison in Cidade Velha which was then known as Ribeira Grande. 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 Amílcar Cabral and the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde and the independence of 1975. Santiago several times hosted conferences on Creole culture.

Population

Santiago has always been the most populous island in Cape Verde. The island population has doubled since the independence of Cape Verde in 1975. Other towns on the island include Assomada and Tarrafal.

Economy

The main industries are agriculture, tourism, fishing and others, and leastly manufacturing. Main agricultural products are corn, sugar cane, banana, coffee and mangoes.

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

Sporting teams

Persons

External links

Islands of Cape Verde
Island groups
Barlavento · Sotavento
 Cape Verde
Islands
Boa Vista · Brava · Fogo · Maio · Sal · Santa Luzia · Santiago · Santo Antão · São Nicolau · São Vicente
Islets
Ilhéu do Baluarte · Ilhéu Branco · Ilhéu Laja Branca · Ilhéu dos Pássaros · Ilhéu Rabo de Junco · Ilhéu Raso · Ilhéu de Sal-Rei · Ilhéu de Santa Maria · Ilhéus Secos (Ilhéu de Cima · Ilhéu Grande)

Personalities: José Maria Neves, Prime Minister