Espargos

Espargos
Coordinates: 16°45′22″N 22°56′46″W / 16.756°N 22.946°WCoordinates: 16°45′22″N 22°56′46″W / 16.756°N 22.946°W
Country	Cape Verde
Island	Sal
Municipality	Sal
Civil parish	Nossa Senhora das Dores
Population (2010)[1]
• Total	17,081

Espargos is the capital city of the island municipality of Sal, Cape Verde. Espargos means "asparagus" and refers to the wild vegetable asparagus stalk with its bright yellow flowers which grows in sandy areas around the island, the type is Asparagus squarrosus and are found in other parts of Cape Verde except for Brava. It is situated in the heart of the island, close to the Amílcar Cabral International Airport. The head offices of Cabo Verde Express and Halcyonair are located at the airport.^[2][3]

Historical population

Year	Population
1990 (Census)	5,778
2000 (Census)	5,456
2010 (Census)	17,081

History

One of the streets of Espargos

In 1939 the Italian Government of Benito Mussolini was granted authorization by the Portuguese colonial government to begin construction on a transit airport to service its flights flying between Europe and South America. Very simple pre-fabricated installations were built. However, 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 Ilha do Sal airport was a fully operational transit facility. The airport has been gradually improved ever since. Small houses were erected in several areas immediately adjacent to the airport. Workers from nearby Sao Nicolau named the civilian area "Preguiça" after the port village on their home island. Espargos is the city's official name. Today Espargos is the principal commercial and government center of Ilha do Sal.^[4]

References

1. "2010 Census results". Instituto Nacional de Estatística Cabo Verde (in Portuguese). 17 March 2014.
2. "Contacts." Halcyonair. Retrieved on 14 December 2011. "Head Office Amilcar Cabral International Airport Concourse Hall, 1st floor - P. O. Box 142 " - Address in Portuguese: "Halcyonair, S.A. Aeroporto Internacional Amílcar Cabral P.O. Box 142 – Ilha do Sal – República de Cabo Verde" and "Agências Halcyonair Sal Aeroporto Internacional Amílcar Cabral Concourse Hall, 1º piso - P.O. Box 142"
3. "Contact Us." Cabo Verde Express. Retrieved on 14 December 2011. "Our address : Cape Verde Express The Concourse Amilcar International Airport Ilha do Sal Cape-Verde"
4. Sal History

External links

• Espargos Photos from Espargos