Maio, Cape Verde

For other uses, see Maio (disambiguation).

Maio

Native name: Dja r’ Mai’
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	15°13′33″N 23°9′56″W / 15.22583°N 23.16556°W / 15.22583; -23.16556
Area	269 km2 (103.9 sq mi)
Length	31 km (19.3 mi)
Width	25 km (15.5 mi)
Highest elevation	436 m (1,430 ft)
Highest point	Monte Penoso
Country
Cape Verde
Concelhos (Municipalities)	Maio
Largest city	Vila do Maio

Maio (in Cape Verdean Creole: Dja r’ Mai) is the easternmost of the Sotavento islands of Cape Verde. Maio is located south of the islands of Boa Vista and east of Santiago. The island is also known for its large forest, which is unusual for Cape Verde.

Geography

The island covers an area of 269 km². The tallest mountain on the island (436 m) is on the east coast, in a mountain range named Monte Penoso. Terra Salgadas is a plain filled with salt, in the far north. The northernmost point on the island is Ponta Cais. Bays includes Galeão and Santana to the north. The island’s main town is Vila do Maio, also known as Porto Inglês, near which its airport lies.

Settlements

• Alcatraz
• Barreiro
• Calheta
• Figueira da Horta
• Figueira Seca
• Funchago
• João
• Lagoa
• Monte Branco
• Morro
• Morrinho
• Pedro Vaz, on Maio's east coast
• Pedro Vaz, near Galeão
• Pilão Cão
• Porto Cais
• Praia Gonçalo
• Ribeira Dom João
• Santo Antônio
• Vila do Maio (formerly Porto Inglês, meaning English Port) (pop: 1,561)

History

It was named after its first sighting on May 1, 1460.

Population

The island population is about 5,435 and the population density is 20.2/km².

Demography

Population of Maio, Cape Verde (1940—2010)
1940[1]	1950[1]	1960[1]	1970[1]	1980[1]	1990[1]	2000[2]	2010[3]
2237	1924	2680	3466	4098	4969	6754	8303

Economy

The island prospered around salt collecting, with a little agriculture and grazing, but none of the industries are now profitable.

Other

Maio has a few schools or a collegiate (colegio), a high school, churches, beaches including Galeão and Santana, hotels, a port serving to the islands of Boa Vista and Santiago, and a square (praça).

Sporting teams

Main article: Maio Island League

• Académica da Calheta
• Académico/83
• Barreirense
• Beira-Mar
• Onze Unidos
• Santana de Morrinho

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Source: Statoids
2. ^ Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatísticas.
3. ^ Source: projection to 2010 from the Instituto Nacional de Estatísticas.

External links

• caboverde.com
• Information about Maio by sodade.de (German)
• Map of Maio (scale: 1:50,000)
• Maio, Cape Verde's Paradise

Coordinates: 15°13′33″N 23°9′56″W / 15.22583°N 23.16556°W / 15.22583; -23.16556