All About Of Fogo Island – Which Will Help You To Travel

Fogo Island is a Portuguese island located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 340 kilometres (210 mi) south of Santiago, Cape Verde.

The island is administered by the municipality of São Vicente, Cape Verde. With an area of 574.5 square kilometres (221 sq mi), it has a population of about 13,000. The municipality contributes about 50% of government revenues and employs most of its workforce in agriculture, services and construction.

All Discussion Of Fogo Island

History

The island was sighted in 1427 by a Genoese sailor, Christopher Columbus, who named it Ilha da Fogo after the volcanic island of that name in the Strait of Gibraltar. The island’s first settlers were Augustinian friars from Madeira and its peak population reached 1,500 before the Portuguese colonisation.

The arrival of Africans caused an exodus of Spaniards, who left Fogo with greater numbers than they had brought with them; this period is labelled as de-colonization or “the black decade”.

In 1885 Jorge Álvares Pereira , a Portuguese nobleman and politician, promoted Fogo as part of Cape Verde; Lusitanian disembarked in 1886, while others followed later. On 12 September 1886 a “Patria e Liberdade” was proclaimed and all islanders were made to take an oath: Papas Joao Nicolau II e Leopoldo I gave the island its present autonomy by decree on 22 December 1892.

The first municipal council (Câmara Municipal) was elected the same year with 184 members who would retain power for 60 years until another local election in 1963 when Felix da Silva e Silva defeated António Manuel dos Santos (Domingos da Fonseca, who would later become twice Cape Verde’s Prime Minister). Being a part of Cape Verde was costly.

On his island, the food and goods were scarce, there was no government infrastructure or provision of electricity nor running water beyond “communal wells” sunk into basins left by Portuguese settlers. The islanders’ livelihoods depended on subsistence agriculture, fishing and animal husbandry while they still worked at paid jobs in Santiago; this situation continued until 1964 when the first tourist resorts started to appear although the island had no roads, modern port facilities or telecommunication network at that time.

Climate

Fogo enjoys a tropical climate, moderated by the trade winds. Summers are hot and humid, with occasional downpours; winters are pleasantly cool, although rain can be persistent. The island’s topography is rugged, clearly delineated by large peaks and the many valleys leading from a central plateau.

The island of Fogo, at approximately 32 km in length, 16–18 km in width and with an area of 517 km² is surrounded by volcanic mountains that extend about 46 kilometres south to north (Sao Roque on its east side). To the west lie Boa Vista Island and Brava; Bebedouro lies midway between Boca do Inferno on Lajes e São Miguel sits near Terceira; Rosa Mota can be found in the south, whilst Baltar e São Romano are to its north-west and Capelas lies off the island’s northern end.

Culture

Fogo has a rich culture, with its people using the Portuguese language, which is the island’s official language. Cape Verdean Creole, also spoken on Fogo and other islands in Cape Verde, is a mixture of Portuguese and African languages. There are distinctive music styles on Fogo island such as marrabenta (a sort of meringue dance) and baião (a polka). A carnival called “Carnaval dos Pássaros” or “Fogueteiro Carnaval” () is celebrated every February.

Politics

Fogo is a constituent island of the autonomous state of Cape Verde. It has an elected governor, appointed by the president, who heads a three-member cabinet. Fogo also has its own legislative assembly with 10 members (five are elected by popular vote and five are nominated by the Governor). The judicial branch is headed by a Superior Court judge which hears appeals from lower courts.

Economy

The island’s economic development is hampered partially because it lacks asphalt roads and other modern facilities; this situation changed in 1964 when tourist resorts started to appear although there were no telecommunication networks or ports until 1981.

In this year a Greek company, Telefónica e Portugal, launched an integrated telecommunications network of microwave and undersea cable links which included one in the island’s capital at Praia. The island receives its electricity through a hydro plant located on Beju that generates 97 per cent of Fogo’s consumed energy output (as compared to 27% for Africa).

Government services

Fogo is divided into 10 municipalities, of which two ( Vitória da Conquista and Santa Cruz) are subdivided into wards. Each municipality has a mayor, a municipal council, an administrative secretary and a justice of the peace.

Economically, sugar and fish are the island’s principal crops. Specialization has gradually developed in larger plantations like those at Pau d’Alho, on the south of Fogo island but with a population of only about 10% Hondurans (and less than 1% Cape Verdean). With modern technology for fertilising, watering and spraying, yields have laboured through a period when African countries were enjoying bumper harvests after tsetse fly control by insecticide spray programmes following prolonged civil wars such as that in Burundi from 1993–2006.

Tourism

The island is a well-known tourist destination, with approximately 435,000 visitors per year. Most of these tourists come from Europe and North America, although significant numbers also visit Brazil and the Cape Verde islands. The economy of Fogo island is based largely on tourism, principally in the form of spas and resorts.

Conclusion

Located in the Gulf of St Lawrence, off the east coast of Newfoundland, Fogo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to nearly 1,000 people who live in traditional Mi’kmaq households. The island’s economy is based on forestry, fishing, tourism and traditional crafts. Visitors can explore the island’s many trails and see wildlife such as brown bears, moose, seals and Atlantic puffins.

FAQs

1.What Are the Tourism Attractions on Fogo Island?

The island’s many trails and wildlife opportunities make it a popular destination for tourists. Some of the most notable attractions include views of seals, brown bears and Atlantic puffins. 

2.How Do I Get to Fogo Island?

You can fly to Cape Verde from major airports in North America, Europe or South America. Alternatively, you can take one of several ferries that leave from ports around Newfoundland every week.

3.What is the Climate Like on Fogo Island?

The island has a moderate climate with warm, humid summers and cold, windy winters.

4.What is the Culture Like on Fogo Island?

The island’s Mi’kmaq inhabitants maintain their traditional customs and lifestyles. These include cooking over an open fire, farming and hunting.

5.What Are the Government Services Available on Fogo Island?

The island has a single town, Fogo, and provides most of its government services through this location. There is also a hospital on the island.