Cabo
Verde
The Islands |
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With a surface of 990 km²,
Santiago is the largest island of the Cape Verdean
archipelago. The capital of the republic is Praia.
With 110'000 inhabitants, it is the island most
vividly influenced by its African culture and
tradition. The people, known as "badios",
are dark-skinned as on Sal and São Vicente
and their music and dancing, especially batuco
and funanà, allow their observers to clearly
recognize their African origins. Santiago is both
the most important commercial centre of Cape Verde
and the agriculturally productive island of the
entire archipelago.
This is due to the advantageous
climatic ratios, especially the precipitation
provided by the trade wind clouds, which poor
down rain in the high mountains of Santiago. As
such, the island possesses a fertile landscape
over wide stretches, where corn, bananas, acacia,
tamarisk, wild figs, sugar cane, mangos and sweet
potatoes can be cultivated. Assomada, approximately
40 km away from Praia, is located at a height
of 540 m ASL and is considered one of the breadbaskets
of the Cape Verde Islands. One of the most beautiful
beaches on Cape Verde is located in the bay of
Tarrafal, 80 km northwest of Praia. |
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| In the development of Creole
culture and Creole families, Santiago plays an
important role as it was once the infamous and
notorious centre of the slave trade. At that time,
the capital was Ribeira Grande, which is currently
of historical value as Cidade Velha and belongs
to the World Cultural Heritage. It was destroyed
at the beginning of the 18th century, when Praia
– located 15 km away – was then ultimately
declared the new capital. |
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