Santa Catarina, Cape Verde facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Santa Catarina
Municipality
Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Assomada, Cabo Verde
Country	Cape Verde
Island	Santiago
Area
• Total	242.6 km2 (93.7 sq mi)
Population  (2010)
• Total	43,297
• Density	178.47/km2 (462.24/sq mi)
ID	72

Santa Catarina is a special area in Cape Verde, a country made of islands in Africa. It's like a county or a district, and it's found on the western side of Santiago Island. The main city and capital of Santa Catarina is called Assomada. In 2017, about 45,920 people lived here. The total size of Santa Catarina is about 242.6 square kilometers.

Towns and Villages

Santa Catarina has one main area called a freguesia, which is also named Santa Catarina. This area is then divided into many smaller towns and villages. The biggest city is Assomada, which had over 12,000 people in 2010. Other important places include Ribeira da Barca and Achada Lem. Many people live in these smaller communities across the region.

Geography and Nature

Santa Catarina has a very rugged landscape. This means it has lots of steep hills and mountains. You can see deep river valleys and rocky peaks. There are also old volcanoes here. The highest mountains on Santiago Island are found in Santa Catarina. These include Serra Malagueta and Pico da Antónia.

Santa Catarina shares its borders with several other areas. To the north, it touches Tarrafal. To the northeast, it's next to São Miguel. On the east, you'll find Santa Cruz. To the southeast, it borders São Salvador do Mundo. Finally, to the south, it connects with Ribeira Grande de Santiago.

Serra Malagueta is one of the highest mountains in Santa Catarina.

Achada Lém is a village in Santa Catarina.

History of Santa Catarina

The area of Santa Catarina became a municipality in 1834. Back then, it was much larger. It included several other parishes, which are like smaller districts. Over time, some of these parishes became separate municipalities.

The main town of Santa Catarina has changed a few times. First, it was Picos. Then, for a short time, it was Achada Falcão. Later, it moved to Tarrafal. Since 1912, the main town has been Assomada.

Some parts of Santa Catarina joined the municipality of Praia in 1872. Later, in 1917, two northern parishes left to form the Municipality of Tarrafal. One parish, São Salvador do Mundo, rejoined Santa Catarina in 1971. However, in 2005, it became its own separate municipality again.

A colorful mural honoring Nhonhô Hopffer, an architect and musician from the region.

Population Changes

The number of people living in Santa Catarina has changed a lot over the years. In 1940, there were about 26,848 residents. The population grew steadily until 1970, reaching over 41,000 people. There was a big jump in population by 2000, when it reached over 50,000. However, after 2005, when São Salvador do Mundo became its own municipality, Santa Catarina's population decreased. By 2017, it was estimated to be around 45,920 people.

Famous People from Santa Catarina

Many notable people come from Santa Catarina. These individuals have made contributions in different fields.

• Víctor Borges: He used to be the foreign minister of Cape Verde. A foreign minister helps manage a country's relationships with other countries.
• Arlindo Gomes Furtado: He is the current bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde. A bishop is a high-ranking leader in the Christian church.
• Danielson Gomes Monteiro: A talented football player.
• Gilyto: A well-known singer.
• Suzanna Lubrano: Another popular singer.
• António Mascarenhas Monteiro: He was a former president of Cape Verde. A president is the leader of a country. He served from 1991 to 2001.
• Wania Monteiro: An athlete who competes in sports.
• José Maria Neves: He was a statesman from Cape Verde. A statesman is an experienced and respected political leader.
• Gil Semedo: A famous singer.
• Tcheka: Another popular singer.
• Manuel Veiga: A writer from Cape Verde.
• Jovane Cabral: A football player.

Local Celebrations

The most important celebration in Santa Catarina is the festival of Saint Catherine. This special event happens every year on November 24. It's a time for the community to come together and celebrate.

Global Connections

Santa Catarina has connections with cities in other countries. These connections are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They help build friendships and cultural exchanges between different places.

Santa Catarina is twinned with:

• Hattersheim am Main, Germany
• Trofa, Portugal
• Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal

Santa Catarina also works closely with:

• Montijo, Portugal

See also

In Spanish: Santa Catarina (Cabo Verde) para niños