Santiago, Cape Verde

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.