Santo Antão

Santo Antão (Portuguese for Saint Anthony) is the westernmost and largest of the Barlavento islands of Cape Verde. It is also the westernmost large island in Cape Verde and the continent of Africa. The island is the second largest in Cape Verde. The island is entirely made up of volcanic canal named Canal de São Vicente . The island was discovered in 1462 by Diego Afonso , but was not given its current name until around the 1500s. First inhabited in 1548, it is divided into north and south by a mountain range long considered impenetrable but now crossed by a road. The island's main town is Ribeira Grande on the north coast, home to an airport, while its ferry port is Porto Novo on the south coast.

Geography

The tallest mountain is Topo de Coroa elevating at 1,979 m. The second tallest is Pico da Cruz elevating at 1,585 m. The continuation of the observation the elevation of the water temperature of the sea in the region of Ponta do Sol. The Italian vulcanologists declared the island around the risk for newer eruptions. The area is absolutely dry in the southwest while rainfalls are in the northeast. Much of the geography are green. Parts of the valleys are eroded. Some volcanoes are young and have caldeiras. Some of the Pozzoluan hills have basalt rocks extending about hundreds of metres high.

History

In the 17th century, people from the nearby islands of Santiago and Fogo along with people from northern Portugal arrived in today's Vila da Ribeira Grande in the northern part of the island. Later, wine and coffee became the most important exports on the island which made up the island's history

Information

The main source of agriculture are sugar canes, yams, cassavas, bananas, mangoes and corn) and fishing. The main product on the island is a kind of rum and is known as Grogue . Tourism is becoming one of the most dominant industry on the island. The island is the most touristic island in Cape Verde. The island is very pretty and people are very polite and are well-educated. Bathing and fishing are in the area of Tarrafal de Monte Trigo.

Municipalities

• Paúl CV-PA
• Porto Novo CV-PN
• Ribeira Grande CV-RG

Parishes and settlements

• Alto Mira
• Coculi
• Eito
• Espongeiro
• Janela
• Lombo de Santo
• Paúl
• Passo
• Ponta do Sol
• Porto Novo (pop: 14,731)
• Ribeira Grande
• Sinagoga
• Tarrafal de Monte Trigo

External links

• University of Massachusetts - bl.a. en bild från Santo Antão
• caboverde.com
• Photos of Santo Antão
• Info from Lucete Fortes (in German)
• Map and Information about Santo Antão (in German)