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:::::: Cape Verde Holiday Apartments ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::: Boa Vista Island
Boa Vista - meaning “good view” - is the easternmost
island of Cape Verde and the one nearest to the African Continent.
It is the third largest island after Santo Antao and Santiago. The
length of the island is 31km north to south at the longest point
and the width is 29km west to east at the longest point. Boa Vista
has 55kms of white sandy beaches. It covers an area of 620sqm and
has a population of 3,353. It has the smallest population of all
the Cape Verde islands (excepting the 3 north western which are
uninhabited).
Most of the population live in the capital Sal Rei, which means "Salt
King", as the town is named after the salt production business
which used to be important on Boa Vista, but there are many smaller
settlements. Much of the island is flat with the highest point being
Monte Estancia which elevates 287m. Other mountains include Santo
Antonio and Monte Negro. The main industries today are date farming
and tourism. The climate is influenced by the hot dry winds from the
Sahara.
Boa Vista has its own international airport, opening in June 2007.
It is also 12 minutes by air taxi from Sal Island which has an international
airport. The main town of the island Sal Rei has a ferry port and
also the island's airport which lies on the north west side of the
island. The island is well known for marine turtles, traditional
music, sand dunes and beaches.
There is not an abundance of wildlife on Boa Vista but it includes
lizards, monkeys, wild goats and a variety of birds. The east coast
is home to nesting West Africa's sea turtles. The main minerals
are pozzolana which is a volcanic rock used for making cement and
salt.
Boa Vista offers excellent conditions for all watersports including
sailing, diving, surfing, fishing, sea canoeing, and cycling. Better
known as Santa Monica, Curralinho beach is one of the most beautiful
beaches of Cape Verde and certainly the archipelago's largest.
It is possible to see much of the island either by self drive car
or with the services of a local guide. The main sites of interest
include the many extensive white sanded beaches including Chave beach
and Curralinho beach. Head inland from Chave beach you may find evidence
of the former production of ceramic tiles and bricks etc. A small
craft centre is developing here.
At present, there is limited accommodation on the island of Boa
Vista, therefore it is advisable to book well in advance. To contact
the owner click here.
:::::: History
Boa Vista was discovered on the 3rd of May, 1480, after the islands
of Maio, Santiago and Fogo, and was first named S.Cristovao. The
name Boa Vista has its origin in the exclamation "Captain,
good sight (boa vista)", instead of the traditional "Land
at sight", due to the joy of a sailor in the dormer window
of a sailing vessel which faced a fearful tempest. Initially dependent
on one of the ports under the command of a captain in the island
of Santiago, the occupancy of that island started in 1497, when
it was given to Captain Rodrigo Afonso for the raising of cattle
in the hands of a small number of shepherds. Its adult population
began in 1620. |
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