Madeiral

Madeiral (in Cape Verdean Creole, written in ALUPEC: "Maderal"), is a village located east-southeast of the island capital of Mindelo in the island of Sao Vicente, Cape Verde. The location is south of the heart of the island. Madeiral contains around 1,000 people and is slowly growing. The village is linked with the major road linking with Mindelo and the western half of the island and Topim and the eastern portion of the island. Madeiral also serves a road linking with Mato Inglês and the northern part of the island and a remote road to the mountains of the south of the island.

Nearest Places

*Mato Inglês, north
*Topim, south (distance: about 5 km)
*Mindelo, west-northwest (distance: 5 km)

Geography

The area around Madeiral contains farmlands as well as forests and some grasslands to the east in the valley area. The farm size is very small, and they are irrigated, the size of the farm is only the equivalent to almost the basketball or a volleyball field. The valley area filled with larger farmlands covers the west, grasslands covers the eastern portion with a desert-like field and a desert with rocks and a few grasses and flowers on the mountain areas north and south of Madeiral along with two valleys, one in the north and another in the south, the southern portion is not vegetated due to that the soil is not used for farming. The residential area as well as its homes are mainly within the major road. A part of the houses were built in the late-20th century. The living standards are in the middle range as well as its income, one time, there were no money until the mid-20th century. The village is near the island's middle class. A part of the population are farmers and are based in agriculture where banana plantations, pineapple and other crops are common, the rest works in shops, ports and other businesses. Electricity as well as communications, other necessities and phone lines arrived between the mid to late 20th century.

Information

Madeiral offers panoramic views to the mountains including Monte Verde, two near Calhau and the hills of Mindelo, the island of Santo Antão can be seen to the west including a part of Monte Cara and parts of Madeiral can be seen from the central part of the island. Parts of Monte Cara and the western portion can be seen but the entire valley can be viewed. A part of the central, the eastern and the southern portions of the island can be seen as well as Monte Verde.

Other

Madeiral has a school, a middle school, churches, shops, a basketball and a soccer field and a square ("praça or prasa")