Location
Maio is the easternmost of the Sotavento (leeward) islands of Cape Verde. Maio is located south of the island of Boa Vista and east of Santiago. Maio is known as Dja r’ Mai in Cape Verdean Creole.
Maio is known for its beautiful sandy beaches and the large forest, which is unique for Cape Verde.
History
The island was named Maio (Portuguese for “May”) after its first sighting on May 1, 1460. The inconclusive Battle of Maio was fought between British and French frigate squadrons off the island’s southern coast on 23 January 1814 in the last stages of the Napoleonic Wars.
Geography and geology
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. Terras 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, Maio Airport lies.
Others places are:
- Barreiro (Len Varela e Banda Riba),
- Figueira – (Figueira da Horta e Figueira Seca),
- Ribeira Dom João,
- Pilão Cão,
- Alcatraz,
- Pedro Vaz,
- Praia Gonçalo,
- Santo António,
- Cascabulho (Cascabutch),
- Morrinho,
- Calheta (Cadjeta)
- Morro
Population
As of 2010, the population was estimated at 8,303. Most people in Maio are Roman Catholic.
Economy
The island prospered around salt collecting in its early days of colonialism, with a little agriculture and grazing.
There are two types of agriculture practice in Maio, rain fed and irrigated. During the raining season products as corn, beans, pumpkins and melons are being cultivated. Products that farmers cultivate year around are sweet potato, cassava, papaya, fig, coconut and tamarind. Goats, cows, pigs, chickens and donkeys are common on the island. Few people own a horse. Scarcity of water is the biggest problem for the locals.
Fishery is important and abundant available. Tuna, sailfish and different coral fishes as the coral hind are been caught.
The economy is heavily supported by migrants who send money to their family on the island.
Tourism is slowly being developed.
Sports
Football is by far the most popular sport, but water sports as surfing, diving and swimming are becoming more popular. The local football championship is the Maio Island League
Links
For more information, plesae see: