Tarrafal, Cape Verde

Tarrafal (also: Mangui or Mangue) is a city[2] in the northern part of the island of Santiago, Cape Verde. In 2010 its population was 6,656. It is a fishing port situated on the northwestern coast. It constitutes the seat of the Tarrafal Municipality.

Tarrafal
Settlement
View of the town of Tarrafal
Tarrafal
Coordinates: 15.278°N 23.752°W / 15.278; -23.752
CountryCape Verde
IslandSantiago
MunicipalityTarrafal
Civil parishSanto Amaro Abade
Population
 (2010)[1]
  Total6,656
ID71120

Geography

Tarrafal Beach with Monte Graciosa
Tarrafal's Main street

The city is situated by the Baía de Tarrafal, at the foot of 643 m high Monte Graciosa.[3] Tarrafal is at the northern end of two main roads to Praia in the south, one leading through Assomada and São Domingos (EN1-ST01), the other along the east coast through Calheta de São Miguel and Pedra Badejo (EN1-ST02).

History

The origin of the name Tarrafal is the indigenous plant tarrafe,[3] Tamarix senegalensis.[4] The settlement was mentioned in the 1747 map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin as "Terrafal".[5] Tarrafal was the seat of the municipality of Santa Catarina from 1869 until 1912, when the seat was moved to Assomada.[6] In 1917, the municipality of Tarrafal was separated from Santa Catarina, and the town Tarrafal became its seat.[7] Between 1936 and 1974, political prisoners were held at the Tarrafal camp, south of the city. At least 32 prisoners died in the camp, which now houses a museum.[3]

Santo Ámaro Abade church

Demographics

YearPopulation
23 June 1990, census3,626
16 June 2000, census5,785
1 January 2005, estimate6,463
2010, census6,656
View over Tarrafal along with Monte Graciosa from the Serra Malagueta ranges

See also

References

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