Avenida Charles Darwin

Avenida Charles Darwin is an avenue east of the center of Praia, Santiago island, Cape Verde it runs near the east bank of Ribeira da Trindade and north of Praia Harbor within the slope of Achada Grande de Santiago and in the city districts of Lem Ferreira and Achada Grande Frente. The street is named after the famed naturalist Charles Darwin who first visited the island in 1832 and the approximate location where he first visited, it was his visit before Brazil in South America. It runs south then southeast. The avenue forms a part of the EN1-ST01 and is the starting point, it is no longer the main highway after the Circular Road opened in 2011, it serves traffic with the city center, the Plateau, Vila Nova and the south part. Its total length is 1.18 km.

About the street

The avenue begins in a roundabout connecting Ruas do Aeroporto, de Castelão and Lem Ferreira, and Rua Achada Grande (part of EN1-ST06) which connects the Circular Road and the airport. It has three curves, all of them in the north part. It intersects with other streets in Lem Ferreira one paved road, a dirt walkway and two dirt roads.

Elevation varies, it is 14 meters above sea level at the starting point at the rotary, 7 meters at the first curve, 5 meters at the second and 3 to 4 meters at the third curve and the remainder of the length.

History

The avenue was once a street named Rua do Porto, as there are two main roads connecting the port, it was renamed. The other is Rua (or Caminho) de Achada Grande and connects Route 1-6 of Santiago.

The road existed since the 16th century and was a road that connected through Várzea's Sucupira and Achada Grande and was a dirt road that connected the landing point. When the port moved from Gamboa to Ponta de Visconde in the 1960s, the road was partly extended and became paved with cobblestone, since the 1990s, it its asphalt. When the Circular Road opened, access to other parts of the island redirected to Rua Achada Grande. Between mid 2015 and early 2016, Avenida Charles Darwin was repaved and added a sidewalk on the left side. Pedestrian crossings were added including by the rotary with Rua do Aeroporto, the outdoor basketball/futsal court and the factory.

Panoramics

At the southern terminus, it offers a view of the south of the city including Várzea and its stadium, Gamboa, Ilhéu de Santa Maria, Prainha-Temerosa and areas surrounding the harbor.

Transportation

One transit line passes through the avenue often or sometimes, they include:^[1]

• Plateau – Port of Praia

References

Coordinates: 14°55′20″N 23°30′25″W / 14.9222°N 23.507°W / 14.9222; -23.507