Brava, Cape Verde
Encyclopedia
Brava is an island
in Cape Verde
. It is the smallest inhabited island, but at the same time the greenest, of Cape Verde, in the Sotavento group. First settled in the 1540s, its population grew after Mount Fogo
on neighbouring Fogo
erupted in 1675. Its main industry was long whaling
, but the island is now primarily agricultural.
. It lies in the lee of the enormous Fogo volcano. Volcanic activity on the island has been mainly located along three sets of lineaments, which all intersect at the crest of ground that forms the highest part of the island. Brava has no documented historical eruptions, but its youthful volcanic morphology and the fact that earthquake swarms still occur indicate the potential for future eruptions.
North of Brava are two small islands with 4 islets, 3 of them are west of Ilhéu de Cima
. The islands are Ilhéu Grande
.
The island's main town is Vila Nova Sintra. The island has schools, a lyceum, a gymnasia, churches, and a square (praça) in honour of the famous musician Eugénio Tavares.
All of the five villages lie north of the mountaintop, which has four main roads including Furna - Vila Nova Sintra and Fajã de Agua and south to Nova Sintra do Monte and slightly south of the mountaintop. The two large islands north of Brava are uninhabited. The mountain valleys dominate the south, the east and the west. The north has a few valleys.
Precipitation arrives from the trade wind clouds. The island is covered with a leeward cloud so that evaporation is reduced and the vegetation is more abundant. Key inhabited places include the village of Vila Nova Sintra. The village of Furna has a commercial port.
Until recently, there was a daily ferry (an ex-fishing boat) connecting Brava and Fogo. However, since January 2011, Brava can now be reached from Praia
(and Fogo
) almost exclusively via the passenger/cargo ferry, the Kriola. The Kriola is the first of Cabo Verde Fast Ferry's fleet of inter-island catamarans and connects the Sotavento
islands of Santiago
, Fogo
, and Brava. The Kriola typically leaves Furna, its home port, at 7:30 AM on days of operation and returns between 9:30 and 11 PM, depending on the day. The route is typically BRAVA-FOGO-SANTIAGO-FOGO-BRAVA, but at least one day a week it makes a BRAVA-FOGO-BRAVA run. Travel time between between Brava and Fogo is approximately 0:40 and approximately 3:30 between Fogo and Santiago (Praia
).
The main harbour of Brava is Furna
, on the east coast of the island. Buses and taxis are common, especially when the Kriola arrives in port.
On Brava you can reach the villages by "Aluguer" bus. There is no fixed schedule, as the aluguers wait until enough passengers have come before leaving. A few taxis are available as well.
and the first settlement was founded in 1573. The slave trade was common in Cidade Velha
. In 1680, the inhabitants fled from the nearby larger island of Fogo
after its volcano erupted and lava began to flow and to devastate that island. In the 17th and the 18th centuries, pirates raided the bays of the island and continued until the 19th century when whaling was common from the ships of Europe
and North America
.
Emigration began as American whaleships sailed people from Brava to the northeastern part of North America
, especially along the Eastern Seaboard
. Most of the immigrants from Brava settled in Boston, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island
and New Bedford, Massachusetts
.
; he used the traditional morna
and wrote in Cape Verdean Creole. A statue dedicated to Eugénio Tavares is in the main square of Vila Nova Sintra and is encircled with a beautiful garden with trees, sunflowers, flowers, grass and other types of plants. Other notable persons include Hermano da Pina and Armando da Pina who live on the Eastern Seaboard
and whose parents were from Brava and Sandra Orlando (née Fernandez das Neves).
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
. It is the smallest inhabited island, but at the same time the greenest, of Cape Verde, in the Sotavento group. First settled in the 1540s, its population grew after Mount Fogo
Mount Fogo
Pico do Fogo is the highest peak of Cape Verde, rising to above sea level. It is an active stratovolcano lying on the island of Fogo. The main cone last erupted in 1675, causing mass emigration from the island, while a subsidiary vent erupted in 1995...
on neighbouring Fogo
Fogo, Cape Verde
Fogo is an island in the Sotavento group of Cape Verde. It is the most prominent of the group, rising to nearly 3,000 m above sea level at Pico do Fogo.-Geography:...
erupted in 1675. Its main industry was long whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
, but the island is now primarily agricultural.
Geography
Practically the whole island is a stratovolcanoStratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
. It lies in the lee of the enormous Fogo volcano. Volcanic activity on the island has been mainly located along three sets of lineaments, which all intersect at the crest of ground that forms the highest part of the island. Brava has no documented historical eruptions, but its youthful volcanic morphology and the fact that earthquake swarms still occur indicate the potential for future eruptions.
North of Brava are two small islands with 4 islets, 3 of them are west of Ilhéu de Cima
Ilhéu de Cima
Ilhéu de Cima is part of the Ilhéus Secos islet group. Its location is in the east and it represents the second largest islet of the chain. They are administratively a part of the municipality of Brava...
. The islands are Ilhéu Grande
Ilhéu Grande
Ilhéu Grande is part of the Ilhéus Secos islet group. Its location is in the west and it represents the largest islet of the chain. The etymology or its origin of name is the big islet in which is the largest islet of the chain...
.
The island's main town is Vila Nova Sintra. The island has schools, a lyceum, a gymnasia, churches, and a square (praça) in honour of the famous musician Eugénio Tavares.
All of the five villages lie north of the mountaintop, which has four main roads including Furna - Vila Nova Sintra and Fajã de Agua and south to Nova Sintra do Monte and slightly south of the mountaintop. The two large islands north of Brava are uninhabited. The mountain valleys dominate the south, the east and the west. The north has a few valleys.
Precipitation arrives from the trade wind clouds. The island is covered with a leeward cloud so that evaporation is reduced and the vegetation is more abundant. Key inhabited places include the village of Vila Nova Sintra. The village of Furna has a commercial port.
Settlements
- Cachaço
- Campo Baixo
- Cova Joana
- Cova RodelaCova RodelaCova Rodela , is a village in the middle of the island of Brava, Cape Verde.The village is sourrounded by mountains and linked by a good road to Vila Nova Sintra, the biggest town of the island, which is about 2 km away to the East. There are good walking paths to the island's tallest mountain...
- Fajã de Agua
- Furna
- Lime Doce
- Mato Grande
- Nossa Senhora do Monte
- Santa Bárbara
- Tantum
- Vila Nova Sintra
Geographical features
|
Morea The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:... , located in the east southeast |
Transport
The airport, inaugurated in 1992, was closed because of the strong winds. The airline service ended in 2004.Until recently, there was a daily ferry (an ex-fishing boat) connecting Brava and Fogo. However, since January 2011, Brava can now be reached from Praia
Praia
Praia , is the capital and largest city of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on the southern coast of Santiago island in the Sotavento Islands group. It is the island's ferry port and is home to one of the nation’s four international airports...
(and Fogo
Fogo
Fogo may refer to:* Fogo, Cape Verde** Mount Fogo* Fogo, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada** Fogo Aerodrome* Fogo, Scottish Borders, a village in Berwickshire, Scotland** Fogo Priory, a religious house of the above settlement...
) almost exclusively via the passenger/cargo ferry, the Kriola. The Kriola is the first of Cabo Verde Fast Ferry's fleet of inter-island catamarans and connects the Sotavento
Sotavento
The Sotavento islands , is the southern island group of Cape Verde archipelago.There are four main islands: Brava, Fogo and Santiago are rocky and volcanic agricultural islands, with the longest histories of human inhabitance and densest populations in the Cape Verdes...
islands of Santiago
Santiago, Cape Verde
Santiago , or Santiagu in Cape Verdean Creole, is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nation’s population. At the time of Darwin's voyage it was called St. Jago....
, Fogo
Fogo
Fogo may refer to:* Fogo, Cape Verde** Mount Fogo* Fogo, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada** Fogo Aerodrome* Fogo, Scottish Borders, a village in Berwickshire, Scotland** Fogo Priory, a religious house of the above settlement...
, and Brava. The Kriola typically leaves Furna, its home port, at 7:30 AM on days of operation and returns between 9:30 and 11 PM, depending on the day. The route is typically BRAVA-FOGO-SANTIAGO-FOGO-BRAVA, but at least one day a week it makes a BRAVA-FOGO-BRAVA run. Travel time between between Brava and Fogo is approximately 0:40 and approximately 3:30 between Fogo and Santiago (Praia
Praia
Praia , is the capital and largest city of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on the southern coast of Santiago island in the Sotavento Islands group. It is the island's ferry port and is home to one of the nation’s four international airports...
).
The main harbour of Brava is Furna
Furna
Furna is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Demographics:Furna has a population of . , 0.5% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 0.5%...
, on the east coast of the island. Buses and taxis are common, especially when the Kriola arrives in port.
On Brava you can reach the villages by "Aluguer" bus. There is no fixed schedule, as the aluguers wait until enough passengers have come before leaving. A few taxis are available as well.
History
Brava was discovered in 1462 by the PortuguesePortuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
and the first settlement was founded in 1573. The slave trade was common in Cidade Velha
Cidade Velha
Cidade Velha , or simplyCidadi in Cape Verdean Creole, is a city located 15 km from Praia on the island of Santiago. It is the oldest settlement in Cape Verde and used to serve as the capital of Cape Verde...
. In 1680, the inhabitants fled from the nearby larger island of Fogo
Fogo, Cape Verde
Fogo is an island in the Sotavento group of Cape Verde. It is the most prominent of the group, rising to nearly 3,000 m above sea level at Pico do Fogo.-Geography:...
after its volcano erupted and lava began to flow and to devastate that island. In the 17th and the 18th centuries, pirates raided the bays of the island and continued until the 19th century when whaling was common from the ships of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Emigration began as American whaleships sailed people from Brava to the northeastern part of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, especially along the Eastern Seaboard
Eastern seaboard
An Eastern seaboard can mean any easternmost part of a continent, or its countries, states and/or cities.Eastern seaboard may also refer to:* East Coast of Australia* East Coast of the United States* Eastern Seaboard of Thailand-See also:...
. Most of the immigrants from Brava settled in Boston, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
.
Famous residents
Brava's most famous son is the musician Eugénio TavaresEugénio Tavares
Eugénio de Paula Tavares was a Cape Verdean poet. He is known through his famous poems , written in the Crioulo of Brava. His name is honored in the name of the town square in Vila Nova Sintra along with a statue.-Mornas:***...
; he used the traditional morna
Morna
The morna is a music and dance genre from Cape Verde.Lyrics are usually in Cape Verdean Creole, and instrumentation often includes cavaquinho, clarinet, accordion, violin, piano and guitar...
and wrote in Cape Verdean Creole. A statue dedicated to Eugénio Tavares is in the main square of Vila Nova Sintra and is encircled with a beautiful garden with trees, sunflowers, flowers, grass and other types of plants. Other notable persons include Hermano da Pina and Armando da Pina who live on the Eastern Seaboard
Eastern seaboard
An Eastern seaboard can mean any easternmost part of a continent, or its countries, states and/or cities.Eastern seaboard may also refer to:* East Coast of Australia* East Coast of the United States* Eastern Seaboard of Thailand-See also:...
and whose parents were from Brava and Sandra Orlando (née Fernandez das Neves).
Population
Brava is the least populated island of the inhabited Cape Verde islands. The population has been decreasing over the years, primarily due to the migration to other islands and emigration (especially to the United States and Portugal).Demographics
| Population of Brava, Cape Verde (1940—2010) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 |
| 8528 | 7937 | 8625 | 7756 | 6985 | 6975 | 6804 | 6043 |
Economy
The main economy of the island is agricultural, related to irrigation and fishing (the island's main production). Trading and private households depend on income from Cape Verdean residents from North America. Brava never had a lot of tourism. Tourism slowly boomed. The island is unsuitable for beach tourism because the steep shoreline allows few beaches.Sites of interest
- Vila Nova Sintra, an idyllic town with a museum, traditional Portuguese architecture, several churches and many shops.
- VinagreVinagreVinagre is a VNC client for the GNOME desktop environment. It was included in GNOME 2.22. It has several features, like the ability to connect to multiple servers simultaneously and switch between them by tabs, VNC servers browsing and bookmarking. In version 2.29 Vinagre added controlling frame...
(PortuguesePortuguese languagePortuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
for Vinegar) - Fajã de Agua, a small harbour on the West coast with a natural swimming pool, called "piscina".
- Nossa Senhora do Monte, a village in the mountains with a pilgrimage church.
- Cova RodelaCova RodelaCova Rodela , is a village in the middle of the island of Brava, Cape Verde.The village is sourrounded by mountains and linked by a good road to Vila Nova Sintra, the biggest town of the island, which is about 2 km away to the East. There are good walking paths to the island's tallest mountain...
, a village in the mountains with an impressive dragon tree in its main street. - There are many beautiful walking tracks on the island.
Sporting teams
- Académica
- Benfica
- CorôaCoroaCoroa may refer to:* Corôa, a sports club* Koroa, a Native American tribe...
- Morabeza
- No Pintcha
- Sporting
External links
- Brava News - News directly from Brava
- Brava island - caboverde.com
- Brava, Cape Verde Islands - University of Massachusetts
- Photos of Brava
- Brava Island, Cape Verde - Cape Verde Island Guide
- Cabo Verde Fast Ferry - Schedules, booking, company information, etc.