Topim, Cape Verde

Topim (in Cape Verdean Creole, written in ALUPEC: "Topin"), is a village located in the eastern part of the island capital of Mindelo in the island of Sao Vicente, Cape Verde. The location is south of the heart of the island. Topim contains around 600 to 800 people and is slowly growing. The village is linked with the major road linking with Mindelo and Calhau and a remote road to Saragaça and its nearby volcanic mountain.

Nearest Places

*Calhau, east (distance: 1.5 km west)
*Madeiral, west (distance: approximately 5 km east)

Geography

The area around Topim is very arid and rocky as the area is a desert and even into the mountains are made up of incultivatible rocks and ledges to the southwest and northwest with some grasslands. Its farmlands are in the west and north within the village. Forests are a trace and it includes palm and several other types of trees. 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 residential area as well as its homes are mainly within the major road

Information

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

Topim offers panoramic views to the mountains including Monte Verde, the hills of Madeiral, and small parts of the mountains of the island of Santo Antão can be seen. The island of Santa Luzia can be seen to the southeast. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east and south and its beach is approximately 1.5 km from the village centre.

Other

Topim has a school, churches, shops, a basketball and a soccer field and a square ("praça or prasa"). Its nearest middle school is in Mindelo.