Portal:São Tomé and Príncipe

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The São Tomé and Príncipe Portal

São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is an island country in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two archipelagos around the two main islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, about 150 km (93.21 mi) apart and about 250 and 225 km (155 and 140 mi) off the northwestern coast of Gabon. With a population of 201,800 (2018 official estimate), São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest and second-least populous African sovereign state after Seychelles.

The islands were uninhabited until their discovery in 1470 by Portuguese explorers João de Santarém and Pedro Escobar. Gradually colonized and settled throughout the 16th century, they collectively served as a vital commercial and trade centre for the Atlantic slave trade. The rich volcanic soil and proximity to the equator made São Tomé and Príncipe ideal for sugar cultivation, followed later by cash crops such as coffee and cocoa; the lucrative plantation economy was heavily dependent upon enslaved Africans. Cycles of social unrest and economic instability throughout the 19th and 20th centuries culminated in peaceful independence in 1975. São Tomé and Príncipe has since remained one of Africa's most stable and democratic countries. São Tomé and Príncipe is a developing economy with a medium Human Development Index.

The people of São Tomé and Príncipe are predominantly of African and mestiço descent, with most practicing Christianity. The legacy of Portuguese rule is also visible in the country's culture, customs, and music, which fuse European and African influences. São Tomé and Príncipe is a founding member state of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. (Full article...)

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Satellite image of the city of São Tomé and Ana Chaves Bay

Ana Chaves Bay (Portuguese: Baía de Ana Chaves) is a bay on the northeast coast of São Tomé Island in São Tomé and Príncipe. The capital city of São Tomé and its port are situated by the bay. It stretches from the Ponta Oque del Rei in the north to Ponta São Sebastião in the south. Forte de São Sebastião, now part of São Sebastião Museum, occupies Ponta São Sebastião. The port of São Tomé was built at the end of the 1950s on reclaimed land that extends 0.2 miles (0.32 km) north of Ponta São Sebastião; there is a 200 m quay at its north end, with a depth of 3 metres alongside. It is the main port of the country for solid goods; the port of Neves is the main point of entry for liquid fuels. The bay is generally shallow, offering anchorage for small vessels in depths of less than 5 metres (16 ft).

There is a lighthouse at Ponta Oque del Rei at the northwestern end of the bay, built in 1994. Its focal height is 9 metres and its range is 6 nmi (11 km; 6.9 mi). Another light is the São Sebastião Lighthouse at the southeastern end of the bay, built in 1928. Its focal height is 14 metres and its range is 12 nmi (22 km; 14 mi). (Full article...)

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São Tomé and Príncipe at Olympics events - show another

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São Tomé and Príncipe competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 7 to 18 September 2016. The country's participation in Rio marked its debut appearance in the quadrennial event, although it had competed in the Summer Olympics six times since the 1996 Games. The delegation consisted of a single short-distance runner Alex Anjos, who was chosen as São Tomé and Príncipe's flag bearer for the opening ceremony. Anjos was disqualified from the men's 100 metres (T47) for arriving late and failed to advance into the final of the men's 400 metres (T47) after failing to set a fast enough lap time. (Full article...)

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São Tomé and Príncipe at the 1996 Summer Olympics São Tomé and Príncipe at the 2008 Summer Olympics São Tomé and Príncipe at the 2004 Summer Olympics São Tomé and Príncipe at the 2012 Summer Olympics São Tomé and Príncipe at the 2016 Summer Olympics

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...São Tomé and Príncipe is also the smallest Portuguese-speaking country in the world.

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Image 1Palm trees on the Ilhéu das Rolas
Image 2Armed Forces of São Tomé and Príncipe personnel undergo medical training with US Navy personnel
Image 3Island of Príncipe (Sao Tome and Principe), 1727. The inscription says: "The ISLAND of PRINCESS lies between the Islands of FERNANDO PO & St. THOMÉ in the Latitude of 1 Degree 30 Minutes N. all belonging to the Portuguese. This Island is very Woody and breeds abundance of Monkeys, insomuch that it is not safe to walk in the Woods without a gun. The harbour is very convenient to Careen Ships in, and most Ships Bound from Africa to America with Slaves put in here for Food, Water etc."
Image 4The shores near Ponta Figo, a village on São Tomé Island
Image 5A view at Príncipe
Image 6Map of the Gulf of Guinea, showing São Tomé, Príncipe, and Annobón. These islands, together with the island of Bioko and Mount Cameroon on the African mainland, are part of the Cameroon line of volcanoes.
Image 7The island of São Tomé off the west coast of Africa
Image 8Waterfalls near Ponta Figo, São Tomé and Príncipe
Image 9Hiking in the equatorial forest on the island of São Tomé
Image 10A typical beach on the island of São Tomé

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