Porto Inglês (Portuguese for "English port", also: Cidade do Maio, Vila do Maio) is a city[2] in the southwestern part of the island of Maio in southeastern Cape Verde. It is the main urban settlement of the island, and also seat of the Maio Municipality. Its population was 2,971 in 2010. The name Porto Inglês refers to English ships that exported salt produced on the island of Maio from this town. Salt exploitation continued until the 19th century.[3] The inconclusive Battle of Maio was fought between British and French frigate squadrons close to the town on 23 January 1814 in the last stages of the Napoleonic Wars.
Porto Inglês | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
 | |
  Porto Inglês | |
| Coordinates: 15°08′17″N 23°12′40″W / 15.138°N 23.211°W | |
| Country | Cape Verde |
| Island | Maio |
| Municipality | Maio |
| Civil parish | Nossa Senhora da Luz |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 2,971 |
| ID | 61111 |
The port of Porto Inglês has ferry services to Praia on the island of Santiago. The domestic Maio Airport lies 1 km north of the city.
Landmarks:
- Forte de São José and its adjacent lighthouse
- The Nossa Senhora da Luz (Our Lady of Light) church, opened in 1872
- Salinas of the English Port
Historical population
edit| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1990 (June 23, Census) | 1,573 |
| 2000 (June 16, Census) | 2,673 |
| 2010 (Census) | 2,971 |
City twinning
edit
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "2010 Census results". Instituto Nacional de Estatística Cabo Verde (in Portuguese). 24 November 2016.
- ^ Cabo Verde, Statistical Yearbook 2015, Instituto Nacional de Estatística, p. 32-33
- ^ Historia, Municipio do Maio (in Portuguese)