Santiago, Cape Verde

Santiago is a big island. It is in Cape Verde. It sits between two other islands.

The island has many high mountains. Some parts are green and wet. This is because they get much rain. Other parts of the island are dry.

Many people live on this island. The capital city is Praia. It is a very large city.

Farmers grow many things here. They grow corn and bananas. They also grow coffee and mangoes.

Santiago is a very special place to visit.

Santiago is the largest island in Cape Verde. It sits between the islands of Maio and Fogo. Many people live here. In fact, half of the nation lives on Santiago. The capital city is Praia. It is also the largest city in the country.

The island has many high mountains.

The tallest peak is Pico de Antónia. Some parts of the island are very green. The east coast and the center get more rain. These areas have forests. Other parts, like the south, are very dry. This island has many plants and animals. Some of them live only on Santiago.

Santiago has a long history. A town called Cidade Velha was the first capital.

It was founded in 1462. Today, it is a special place that many people visit. Farmers on the island grow many foods. They grow corn, bananas, coffee, and mangoes. People also fish in the ocean. There are many sports played here, too. Football is a very popular game.

Santiago is the largest island in the country of Cape Verde. It sits in the Sotavento Islands between the islands of Maio and Fogo. This island is very important because it is the main center for farming. It is also home to half of all the people in the nation. The capital city, Praia, is located on the southeast coast. Praia is the largest city on the island and in the whole country. Many people live in the different towns like Assomada and Tarrafal too.

The land on Santiago is very varied and has many shapes. Much of the island is mountainous with high peaks. The tallest mountain is called Pico de Antónia.

Another high area is the Serra Malagueta range in the north. The weather changes depending on where you stand on the island. The interior and the east coast are hot and get more rain. This makes those areas green with many forests. However, the south and southwest are much more dry and arid.

Santiago has a long and busy history. A man named António de Noli first visited the island in 1460. In 1462, he settled at a place called Ribeira Grande.

This town is known today as Cidade Velha and is a special World Heritage Site. At one time, it was the second richest city in the Portuguese realm. Because it was so wealthy, pirates like Francis Drake attacked it. Eventually, the capital was moved from Cidade Velha to Praia in 1770. The island later gained its independence in 1975.

There are many interesting facts about the life on the island. Santiago has 1,915 different types of land plants and animals.

About 289 of these species are endemic, which means they live only there. The island is also very green, with 38% of its area covered in forest. In 2015, the population was 294,135 people. People there work in many ways, like farming or fishing. They grow tasty things like corn, bananas, coffee, and mangoes. You can also find many schools and universities for students to learn.

Connecting to the rest of the world is easy through travel. The Nelson Mandela International Airport is located near the city of Praia. This is the second busiest airport in Cape Verde. You can also travel by water using the Praia Harbor.

Ferries run from this harbor to many other islands like Fogo and Sal. On the island, people use roads and buses to get around. Many people enjoy playing sports like football and basketball. There are even big sports complexes for people to use in different towns.

Santiago is the largest island in the nation of Cape Verde. It is a central part of the Sotavento Islands. The island sits between the island of Maio to the east and Fogo to the west. Santiago serves as the most important agricultural center for the country. It is also the most populous island, housing half of the nation's people. The island's capital is the city of Praia, located on the southeast coast.

The physical landscape of Santiago is quite varied and mountainous. The island is 54.9 km long and 28.8 km wide. Much of the terrain is high, though the southeast is slightly flatter. The highest peak is Pico de Antónia, located just west of Picos.

Another major range is Serra Malagueta in the north. Other notable mountains include the Órgãos range and Monte das Vacas. These mountains create different environments across the island.

Climate on the island depends heavily on the local geography. This is caused by orography, which is relief precipitation. This happens when mountains force air upward, causing it to cool and release rain. Because of this, the interior and east coast are seasonally hot and tropical. These areas are often forested and receive heavy rain several times each year. In contrast, the south and southwest coasts are much drier. They sit in the arid rain shadow of the central uplands.

Some areas even have cloud forests, where dense moisture condenses on plants.

Santiago has a long and complex history involving many different people. António de Noli was the first to visit the island in 1460. In 1462, he settled at Ribeira Grande with his family and Portuguese settlers.

Today, this historic town is known as Cidade Velha. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through transcontinental slavery, Cidade Velha became the second richest city in the Portuguese realm. However, its wealth attracted pirate attacks from figures like Francis Drake in 1585. These conflicts caused the town to decline. Consequently, the capital was moved to Praia in 1770.

The island's political history continued through the colonial era. In the 19th century, the end of the slave trade caused an economic crisis. During this time, the port of Mindelo on São Vicente became more important than Praia. The local people grew unhappy with the Portuguese colonial masters. They lacked natural resources and received little sustainable investment. This discontent led to support for Amílcar Cabral and the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde. This movement eventually led to independence in 1975.

Nature on Santiago is remarkably diverse compared to other islands. It contains 1,915 identified land species. Of these, 289 are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth.

The island is also the most forested in Cape Verde, with 38% forest cover. To protect this, there are natural parks in Serra do Pico de Antónia and Serra Malagueta. These parks cover 3.68% of the island. Several plants and animals, such as the lizard *Tarentola rudis*, are endangered. These species rely on the island's unique habitats to survive.

Modern life on Santiago is supported by many systems. The economy relies on agriculture, tourism, and fishing. Farmers grow corn, sugarcane, banana, coffee, and mangoes. For travel, the Nelson Mandela International Airport near Praia serves many passengers. In 2017, it handled 662,356 passengers. The Praia Harbor is also a vital link for cargo and ferries. It connects Santiago to islands like Brava, Fogo, and Sal. On land, people use national roads, buses, and minibuses to move between municipalities like Assomada and Tarrafal.