Espargos

Espargos (Portuguese for "asparagus") is the capital and main commercial centre of the island and municipality of Sal, Cape Verde. The city[2] is situated in the heart of the island.

Espargos
Settlement
Coordinates: 16.756°N 22.946°W / 16.756; -22.946
CountryCape Verde
IslandSal
MunicipalitySal
Civil parishNossa Senhora das Dores
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total17,081
ID41106

Geography

The highest point of Espargos is Monte Curral, elevation 109 meters,[3] where the radar station and the control tower for the airport are located. The Amílcar Cabral International Airport is situated directly southwest of the city centre. The head offices of Cabo Verde Express are located at the airport.[4] The national road EN1-SL01, a dual carriageway, connects Espargos with Santa Maria in the south of the island. Other national roads connect it with Pedra de Lume and Palmeira.[5]

For statistical purposes, the city of Espargos is divided into 24 localities (lugares). The most populous of these are: África 70, Bairro Novo I, Bairro Novo II (Ribeira d'Hoz), Chã de Matias, Hortelã de Baixo, Hortelã de Cima, Preguiça and Ribeira Funda.[6]

History
Panoramic view of Espargos from the west
One of the streets of Espargos
Monte Curral with its airport radar and the city

The development of Espargos started with the construction of the airport in 1939.[7] The Italian Government of Benito Mussolini was granted authorization by the Portuguese colonial government to begin construction of a transit airport to service its flights between Europe and South America. As a consequence of World War II, the Italian involvement in the airport project ceased. In 1945 the Portuguese purchased the airport installation from the Italians and by 1949 the airport was a fully operational facility. Small houses were erected in several areas immediately adjacent to the airport. Workers from the island Sao Nicolau named the civilian area "Preguiça" after the port village on their home island.[8] In 2010, Espargos was elevated from a town to a city.[2]

Demographics
YearPopulation
1990 (Census)5,778
2000 (Census)5,456
2010 (Census)17,081

See also

References
  1. "2010 Census results". Instituto Nacional de Estatística Cabo Verde (in Portuguese). 24 November 2016.
  2. Cabo Verde, Statistical Yearbook 2015, Instituto Nacional de Estatística, p. 32-33
  3. Kapverdische Inseln, Dumont Reisetaschenbuch, 3. Auflage, 2007, ISBN 3-7701-5968-3
  4. Contact Us, Cabo Verde Express. Retrieved on 14 August 2018.
  5. Ilha do Sal, Rede rodoviária, Instituto de Estradas
  6. 2010 Census results Sal
  7. História da Ilha do Sal, Câmara Municipal do Sal
  8. Ray Almeida. "A History of Ilha do Sal". Archived from the original on 6 February 2016.
  • Media related to Espargos at Wikimedia Commons
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