Tarrafal
Coordinates15.278°N 23.752°W
Key71120

Tarrafal (also: Mangui or Mangue) is a city[1] 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.

Geography

The city is situated by the Baía de Tarrafal, at the foot of 643 m high Monte Graciosa.[2] 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 toponym “Tarrafal” is the Portuguese word “tarrafal”, which means a plantation of the indigenous plant “tarrafe”,[2] Tamarix senegalensis.[3] The settlement was mentioned in the 1747 map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin as "Terrafal".[4] In 1917, the municipality of Tarrafal was separated from Santa Catarina, and the town Tarrafal became its seat.[5] 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.[2]

Demographics

YearPopulation
23 June 1990, census3,626
16 June 2000, census5,785
1 January 2005, estimate6,463
2010, census6,656

See also

References

  1. ^ Cabo Verde, Statistical Yearbook 2015, Instituto Nacional de Estatística, p. 32-33
  2. ^ Tarrafal guia turístico, Câmara municipal do Tarrafal
  3. ^ Tamarix senegalensis, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical
  4. ^ Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1747). "Carte des Isles du Cap Verd = Kaart van de Eilanden van Kabo Verde" (in French)
  5. ^ História Câmara municipal, Câmara municipal do Tarrafal