Fogo (Portuguese for "fire") is the most prominent island of the Sotavento group of Cape Verde: it rises to nearly 3,000 m (10,000Â ft) above sea level at its summit, Pico do Fogo.
History
Fogo was discovered in 1460 by a Genovese captain António Noli on behalf of Henry the Navigator and the Portuguese Crown, and was first called São Filipe, meaning Saint Philip in Portuguese. It gained its current fiery name before the 1680 eruption, since a madrigal "The Andalusian Merchant" by Thomas Weelkes, who died in 1623, sings "how strangely Fogo burns, amidst an ocean full of flying fishes".
There are now two cities in the island: São Filipe and Mosteiros.
Volcanic eruptions have occurred in 1680, 1951, 1995 and 2014.
Geography
One of the southernmost islands in Cape Verde, Fogo is located between the islands of Santiago and Brava. Practically the whole island is a stratovolcano that has been periodically active: it last erupted on 2 April 1995, forming a new crater called Pico Pequeno, the "Little Peak". The largest volcanic feature is a 9Â km wide caldera, which has walls 1Â km high. The caldera has a breach in its eastern rim, and in the centre a resurgent dome with an ash cone that forms the highest point of the island: its summit is about 100 m higher than the surrounding caldera wall. Lava from the volcano has reached the eastern coast of the island within historical times.
Two small villages, Portela and Bangaeira, exist in the floor of the caldera (Chã das Caldeiras); the residents were evacuated during eruptions.
The island's main city is São Filipe, near which is an airport. Fogo is largely an agricultural island. It has fertile land in the southwest with a slope of about 10 to 15 degrees. The north and the east are steeper. The island rises abruptly from the ocean, which can be as deep as 5,300 m at a distance of 5 km from the shoreline. The exception is to the west, where the island is connected to another seamount; further west in Brava.
The steep slopes in the northeastern part are green and grassy all-year round. The rest of the mountain is dry and barren, its dry creeks and streams are dry washes.
São Filipe's buildings use classic Portuguese colonial architecture. Mosteiros in the northeast is the island's second most important town.
A violent eruption took place in 1680, forming a new cone that was visible over hundreds of kilometres but lasted only for a few years. It was during this eruption that the island earned its name.
Flora
There are various endemic plants on Fogo:
- Cravo-brabo (Erysimum caboverdiana)
- LÃngua-de-vaca (Echium vulcanorum)
- Losna (Artemisia gorgonum), a medical plant with a bitter taste.
- Tortolho (Euphorbia tuckeyana).
Climate
Being one stratovolcano and extremely mountainous, this island has quite a diverse climate and many various microclimates. Along the coast Fogo has a moderate dry tropical climate according to the Köppenâ€"Geiger climate classification system; higher on the slopes (~ 800 metres ASL) it has a semi-arid mild tropical climate (Köppenâ€"Geiger Bsh_ with very balanced temperatures year round; above 1,000 metres it has a cool highland subtropical steppe climate (Köppenâ€"Geiger BskL). The average annual temperature on the coast is about 23-25 °C, decreasing to some 12-14 °C on the highest ground. There can be remarkably cool weather in the interior, with the warmer wet season starting in July and ending in November, with the colder dry season starting in December and ending in May. Drought, the major climate risk of Cape Verdean islands, is much less pronounced on Fogo, due to the mountain's ability to gain moisture from clouds. During the mid-19th century, Fogo suffered from severe droughts. Death from starvation was common in the population as of 1832.
Demographics
As of 1832, Fogo had an estimated population of 10,000. The official language of Fogo is [Portuguese language|Portuguese]]; yet mostly Fogo Creole is spoken. According to the 2013 national demographic census, Fogo was the fourth most populous island in the Cape Verde archipelago.
Economy
The economy of the island is based on agriculture and fishing, with coffee and wine among the main products. In the 1830s, Fogo's wine was described as being "very superior." Due to its volcanic soil Fogo's coffee also has a good reputation. The island has experienced a substantial diaspora. Many households live off remittances from emigrants in the US and in European countries (Portugal, France, the Netherlands, Italy). Fogo fosters strong connections to Rhode Island and to Massachusetts (US), where many people with Cape Verdean origin live.
Tourism is steadily becoming popular. The volcano (allowed only accompanied by a local guide) is the island's major attraction but many visitors also come to see relatives. The historic city of São Filipe and Chã das Caldeiras in the volcanic crater receive the bulk of visitors. No great tourism facilities exist, but there are small hotels and B&Bs and local guides offer hiking tours (e.g. Creole Guide with some proposed hiking tours and impressions).
Administrative divisions
The island is divided in three municipalities, which are subdivided into civil parishes:
- Mosteiros
- Nossa Senhora da Ajuda
- Santa Catarina do Fogo
- Santa Catarina do Fogo
- São Filipe
- Nossa Senhora da Conceição
- São Lourenço
Sporting teams
See also
Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa
References
External links
- Informations and impressions from Fogo
- Caboverde.com
- University of Massachusetts â€" information and images from Fogo
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