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Fogo
is basicaly a large volcano which is over 3,000m in
height. The volcanic landscape can stgill be seen as
it was formed by previous eruptions. Fogo's landscape
is very dry and arid in the south but humid and fertile
in the north.
The
name Fogo means 'fire' and alludes to the volcano, which
has one of the most perfectly shaped cones in the world.
The volcanic peak is not much more than 200 years old,
and a second, much smaller peak was formed in 1995.
Both peaks lie inside the partly collapsed giant crater
of an ancient volcano that forms the island itself.
The island's capital São Filipe is perhaps the
country's most beautiful city, with so-called sobrado
houses from the colonial period, neatly kept squares
with flowers and a black sandy beach. To the east of
the volcano, on the slope above Mosteiros there is a
densely forested area and plantations of coffee and
fruits. |
Getting There/Getting Around
By air: Internal flights are available
By sea: The island is also served by a ferry
which runs subject to cargo once a week between Santiago,
Fogo and Brava.
Over land: There is limited car/bike hire
is available otherwise the main method of transport is via
Alugar - lifts are arranged locally.
History
Fogo was discovered at the same time as Santiago and Maio,
on 1 May 1460. At first it was called Sao Filipe but later,
was changed to Fogo (Fire).
Once discovered it was immediately occupied, in order to expand
the agriculture in Santiago. The two main agricultural products
introduced were coffee and grapes. The coffee was well known
for its high quality and special aroma. The wine produced,
called Manecom, was also well known and at one time was exported
to Brazil. Other activities also developed at the same time,
cloth weaving for example. As a result of this development,
villages grew in Sao Filipe, Aldeias da Igreja, Mosteiros
and Fajazinha.
The whalers were frequent visitors to the island during the
19th century and not surprisingly many of the inhabitants
that joined them ended up in America. These emigrants returned
later to the island much richer than when they left and the
result was a change in the social structure of the island.
They bought out the most important families at the time, who
were forced to sell their possessions due to the effects of
terrible droughts.
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