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Santiago, Cape Verde

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Santiago
Nickname: Ilha-berço (cradle island)
Map
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates15°03′41″N 23°37′34″W / 15.061515°N 23.626099°W / 15.061515; -23.626099
Area991 km2 (383 sq mi)
Length75 km (46.6 mi)
Width35 km (21.7 mi)
Highest elevation1,394 m (4573 ft)
Administration
Cape Verde
Demographics
Population240,000
Pop. density242.18/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).

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 pillory in Cidade Velha.

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

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

Persons

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santiago, Cape Verde.

Personalities: José Maria Neves, Prime Minister

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