- São Vicente, Cape Verde
São Vicente (Portuguese for "Saint Vincent"), also Son Visent or Son Sent in
Cape Verdean Creole , is one of theBarlavento island s ofCape Verde . It is located between the islands of Santo Antão and Santa Luzia, with theCanal de São Vicente separating it from Santo Antão. The island is composed by a single administrative division, the São Vicente municipality.Geography
The island is roughly rectangular in shape with a surface area of ca. convert|227|km2|sqmi|abbr=on. From east to west it measures convert|24|km|mi|abbr=on and from north to south no more than convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on. The terrain includes mountains in the west, the southwest, the south, the east-central and the north. The area is flat in the north-central, the central part, the eastern part south of Calhau and the northern part in the Baía das Gatas area. The urban area of Mindelo is in the northern part. Much of the island is deforested.
Although volcanic in origin, the island is quite flat. Its highest point is Monte Verde (Portuguese for
green mountain ) located in the northeast-central part with an altitude of convert|725|m|ft|. Although a great amount oferosion has taken place, some craters still remain — in particular near the bay ofMindelo . Other mountaintops includeMonte Cara andTopona .Climate
The climate is mainly
tropical and dry with the temperature around convert|24|°C|°F|0 all year round. The ocean water temperature every year is between convert|22|°C|°F|0 and convert|25|°C|°F|0. There are two seasons: November through July are mainly dry and windy, while August through October is the "rainy season".Geographical features
In clockwise order:
*Ponta deDoca , in the northern part of the island
*PontaMarigou , north, the northernmost point on the island
*Ponta da Fregata, in the northeastern part of the island
*Praia Grande (meaning large beach), northeast
*Ponta do Calhau, located in the east
*Ponta daVianna , located in the east
*Ponta deSaragaça , located in the east southeast
*Ponta daVárzea , located in the southeast
*Ponta doMatadouro , located in the south southeast
*Ponta daCalheta Grande , located in the east southeast
*Ponta do Sul, located in the south
*Ponta Araújo, in the south-southwestern part of the island
*Ponta daRibeira da Caixa , in the southwestern part of the island
*Ribeira Julião tributary
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