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Archipelago

    Ilhéu de Santa Maria

    14°55′N 23°30′W

    Ilhéu de Santa Maria (once known as Quail Island) is a small uninhabited islet of the Sotavento archipelago in Cape Verde located off the shore of the island Santiago. Like all Cape Verdean islands, the islet is of volcanic origin.

    Praia, capital of Cape Verde: coastline with the island of Santa Maria.
    Praia, capital of Cape Verde: coastline with the island of Santa Maria.

    Cayambe / CC BY-SA 3.0

    Terrain

    14°55′N 23°30′W

    Terrain exaggerated for relief. Drag to look around.

    Overview

    Ilhéu de Santa Maria (once known as Quail Island) is a small uninhabited islet of the Sotavento archipelago in Cape Verde located off the shore of the island Santiago. Like all Cape Verdean islands, the islet is of volcanic origin. The islet has an area of roughly 0.05 square kilometres (12 acres) and is 420 metres (460 yards) long and 130 metres (140 yards) wide. It is situated at the entrance of Praia Harbour, in front of Praia da Gamboa, near the city centre of Praia. In the 1850s, a customs house and warehouses were built on the islet. The buildings have been used for quarantine as well, but this was moved to the new Lazareto on Ponta Temerosa in the 1870s. In 2015, the Cape Verdean government and the Chinese-based Legend Development Company agreed on construction of a hotel resort and casino on the islet. As of May 2018, the bridge from the islet to the mainland has been completed, and construction of the hotel and casino are due to start in August 2018.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Chart

    Nearest islands

    Also in Sotavento Islands

    Also in Cape Verde Islands

    Also in Cape Verde

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Talus
    • Wikidata
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs