Tarrafal, Cape Verde

For other uses, see Tarrafal.

Tarrafal
Settlement
View of the town of Tarrafal
Tarrafal
Coordinates: 15.278°N 23.752°W / 15.278; -23.752
Country	Cape Verde
Island	Santiago
Municipality	Tarrafal
Civil parish	Santo Amaro Abade
Population  (2010)[1]
• Total	6,656
ID	71120

Tarrafal (also: Mangui or Mangue) is a city^[2] in the northern part of the island of Santiago, Cape Verde. In 2010 its population was 6,656. It is a fishing port situated on the northwestern coast. It constitutes the seat of the Tarrafal Municipality.

Geography

Tarrafal Beach with Monte Graciosa

Tarrafal's Main street

The city is situated by the Baía de Tarrafal, at the foot of 643 m high Monte Graciosa.^[3] Tarrafal is at the northern end of two main roads to Praia in the south, one leading through Assomada and São Domingos (EN1-ST01), the other along the east coast through Calheta de São Miguel and Pedra Badejo (EN1-ST02).

History

The origin of the toponym “Tarrafal” is the Portuguese word “tarrafal”, which means a plantation of the indigenous plant “tarrafe”,^[3] Tamarix senegalensis.^[4] The settlement was mentioned in the 1747 map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin as "Terrafal".^[5] In 1917, the municipality of Tarrafal was separated from Santa Catarina, and the town Tarrafal became its seat.^[6] Between 1936 and 1974, political prisoners were held at the Tarrafal camp, south of the city. At least 32 prisoners died in the camp, which now houses a museum.^[3]

Santo Amaro Church

Demographics

Year	Population
23 June 1990, census	3,626
16 June 2000, census	5,785
1 January 2005, estimate	6,463
2010, census	6,656

View over Tarrafal along with Monte Graciosa from the Serra Malagueta ranges

See also

• List of cities and towns in Cape Verde

References

1. "2010 Census results". Instituto Nacional de Estatística Cabo Verde (in Portuguese). 24 November 2016.
2. Cabo Verde, Statistical Yearbook 2015, Instituto Nacional de Estatística, p. 32-33
3. Tarrafal guia turístico, Câmara municipal do Tarrafal
4. Tamarix senegalensis, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical
5. Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1747). "Carte des Isles du Cap Verd = Kaart van de Eilanden van Kabo Verde" (in French).
6. História Câmara municipal, Câmara municipal do Tarrafal