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The
Islands>São Vicente
The Island of São Vicente is located on the North-West side of the archipelago which has 227km2 with 24km length and 17km width and height point of 779m in mountain “Mount Verde”. Like all other islands, São Vicente is also mostly volcanic origin and there are some non-active volcanoes in the island. Although it is one of the smallest islands, it cherished with the 2nd largest population and also known as the 2nd commercially important Island with a natural harbour.
A Portuguese navigator Diogo Gomes discovered this amazing island on the 22nd of January, being the Saint Vincent day and named it after Saint
Vincent.
Due to the non-existence of water and regular rain fall, São Vicente was the last to be populated and was used for many years for pasture for cows and goats of some farmers from Santo Antão. In 1838, a big coal deposit was built in the bay of Porto Grande and it was an important coaling and re-supply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. The island started developing and the city of Mindelo was built. With the expansion of steam powered ships on the 2nd half of the XIX century, São Vicente was named in the Atlantic for ships and sailors from all over the
world.
São Vicente enriched farther with cultural development, world famous African musicians and adoption of many African and Latin American cultures such as annual celebration of Carnival in February and the famous Baia Das Gatas music festival in August performed by many greatest musicians from many parts of the world.
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