Santa Maria, Cape Verde

Santa Maria
Settlement

Typical street in Santa Maria
Santa Maria
Coordinates: 16°35′56″N 22°54′14″W / 16.599°N 22.904°W / 16.599; -22.904Coordinates: 16°35′56″N 22°54′14″W / 16.599°N 22.904°W / 16.599; -22.904
Country Cape Verde
Island Sal
Municipality Sal
Civil parish Nossa Senhora das Dores
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 6,258

Santa Maria (Portuguese for Saint Mary) is a fishing town situated in the southern part of the island municipality of Sal, Cape Verde. Santa Maria is located about 16 km south of the Amílcar Cabral International Airport, and km south of the island capital Espargos.

History

Santa Maria was founded in 1835 for the production of sea salt. Most of the product was exported to Brazil, which was halted in 1887 when Brazil imposed a high tax on imported salt to protect its own salt production. The town went into a deep decline, only to recover in 1920 when Portuguese and French investors resumed salt production. This lasted until 1984. More recently, tourism has become an important industry on the island. Many resorts and hotels, including the Riu hotels resorts Riu Garopa and Riu Funana, are situated near Santa Maria.

Beach in Santa Maria

Climate

Climate data for Santa Maria
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 22
(71)		 21
(69)		 23
(73)		 23
(74)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 27
(81)		 28
(83)		 29
(85)		 28
(83)		 26
(79)		 24
(76)		 25.2
(77.5)
Average low °C (°F) 16
(61)		 15
(59)		 17
(62)		 18
(64)		 19
(67)		 22
(72)		 23
(74)		 23
(74)		 24
(76)		 22
(72)		 19
(67)		 18
(64)		 19.7
(67.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 8
(0.3)		 5
(0.2)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 28
(1.1)		 61
(2.4)		 137
(5.4)		 25
(1.0)		 5
(0.2)		 8
(0.3)		 277
(10.9)
Source: Weatherbase[2]

Historical population

Year Population
1990 (Census) 1,343
2010 (Census)[3] 6,258

References

  1. ↑ "2010 Census results". Instituto Nacional de Estatística Cabo Verde (in Portuguese). 17 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Santa Maria, Cape Verde". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census results Sal". Instituto Nacional de Estatística Cabo Verde (in Portuguese). 19 March 2014.

External links

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