São Nicolau ( port. São Nicolau ) is an island in the northern part of Cape Verde .
| Sao Nicolau | |
|---|---|
| port. São Nicolau | |
 Sao Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| Specifications | |
| Square | 388 km² |
| Highest point | 1304 m |
| Population | 12 817 people (2010) |
| Population density | 33.03 people / km² |
| Location | |
| Water area | Atlantic Ocean |
| A country |
|
| Regions | Ribeira Brava , Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau |
Content
Geography
The island is 50 km long and 25 km wide, with an area of about 388 km².
In the distant past, powerful volcanic activity was observed here, which gave the island a mountainous terrain. The highest point of the island 1304 m - Mount Monte Gordo ( port. Monte Gordo ). Mountain ranges alternate with wide plains favorable for the development of agriculture.
History
Settlement of the island began in the XVII century . The island of São Nicolau is rich in fresh water sources; therefore, agriculture and cattle breeding are developed here.
For many years, the island was the cultural capital of the archipelago and the literary cradle of Cape Verde . Here, in 1936, the own literary movement “ Claridade ” was born, the participants of which were the writers Baltazar and Manuel Lopez , Jorge Barboza and others.
Administrative Division
| Isle | Municipality | Community |
|---|---|---|
| Sao Nicolau | Ribeira Brava | Nossa Senora da Lapa |
| Nossa Senhora do Rosario | ||
| Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau | San Francisco |
Attractions
Among the attractions of the island there is a rock called "Rotcha Scribida" (Rotcha Scribida). On it you can see ancient letters, the contents of which have not yet been deciphered. It is believed that these inscriptions were left by people who visited the island before it was discovered by Portuguese sailors. Currently, the inscriptions are in rather poor condition, because they are not protected from external influences. This rock appears in the song of the same name by a native of the island of Amandio Cabral (Amandio Cabral), known in the performance of Cesaria Evora , as well as Zakhar May .