Sao Tome and Principe

Situated in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa, is the captivating island republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. Officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, this little nation comprises two main islands and a number of smaller islets. About 150 kilometers separate the two main islands, São Tomé and Príncipe; São Tomé is the bigger of the two.

These islands lie respectively around 250 and 225 kilometers off Gabon‘s northwest coast. The history and growth of the nation have been much shaped by its key Atlantic Ocean position. Comprising barely 1,001 square kilometers, São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest sovereign state in Africa, behind only Seychelles in terms of territory.

São Tomé and Príncipe has 201,800 people according to the 2018 government estimate. Again following Seychelles, its small population makes it the second least populous African nation. Reflecting the complicated colonial history and cultural legacy of São Tomé and Príncipe, the population of the island are mostly of African and mestiço background.

Thanks in large part to Portuguese colonialism, most people follow Christianity. The customs, celebrations, and daily life of the nation clearly show this religious impact. African and European customs taken together have produced a distinctive cultural tapestry that distinguishes São Tomé and Príncipe from its continental neighbors.

São Tomé and Príncipe‘s past is one of discovery, colonialism, and finally freedom. These rich islands were deserted before 1470; their immaculate beaches and lush woods unspoiled by human activity. This changed when Portuguese adventurers João de Santarém and Pedro Escobar came into the islands on their travels along the African coast.

After their discovery, the Portuguese crown started a slow process of colonization and settlement all through the 16th century. Particularly for the Atlantic slave trade, the islands’ strategic position and natural riches soon made them a major commercial and trading hub. The population composition and socioeconomic structure of the islands would be permanently changed by this sinister period in their history.

São Tomé and Príncipe‘s fertile volcanic soil along with their equatorial closeness provide perfect conditions for farming. Originally concentrating on sugar farming, the Portuguese colonists set up sizable estates mostly dependent on African mainland slaves. For ages to come, this plantation economy would determine the economic framework of the islands.

The agricultural emphasis of São Tomé and Príncipe changed along with global markets. Coffee and cocoa were first produced in the 19th century; later on, the latter became especially important. Renowned for their premium chocolate, the islands came to be known as “Chocolate Islands.” Still, this rich plantation economy kept depending on exploitative labor methods, hence sustaining social disparities.

In São Tomé and Príncipe, bouts of civil upheaval and economic instability defined the 19th and 20th centuries. Growing nationalist attitudes throughout Africa and the inherent disparities in the plantation system stoked aspirations for independence. Unlike many African countries, São Tomé and Príncipe ended over 500 years of Portuguese control by peacefully gaining its freedom in 1975.

São Tomé and Príncipe has set itself apart among Africa’s most democratic and stable nations since acquiring statehood. Although the change to self-governance has not been without difficulties, the country has regularly maintained democratic values and peaceful power transfers.

With a medium Human Development Index, São Tomé and Príncipe is categorized today as a developing economy. The nation has been trying to diversify its economy outside conventional agricultural exports, and travel is showing great potential. Attracting more and more guests year are the immaculate beaches, rich rainforests, and unusual island fauna.

São Tomé and Príncipe, for all its modest scale, actively influences world events. Promoting international collaboration among states having a common language legacy, this founding member state of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.

São Tomé and Príncipe first emerged 30 million years ago in the Oligocene epoch. Underlying deep water along the Cameroon Line, a geological feature across Cameroon into the Gulf of Guinea, volcanic activity created the islands. The rich soils made of basalts and phonolites that this volcanic legacy has given to the islands have been crucial in enabling the plantation farming that has dominated the economy for millennia.

The bigger of the two main islands, São Tomé is 50 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide. Its rugged landscape, with peaks like Pico de São Tomé reaching an amazing 2,024 meters, defines it. Though smaller at 30 kilometers long and 6 kilometers broad, Príncipe also has notable height; Pico de Príncipe, its highest peak, rises to 948 meters.

Before they reach the sea, fast streams that run from the hilly interiors through rich forests and farmed areas span each island. For local ecosystems and agriculture, this wealth of freshwater supplies has been very vital.

São Tomé and Príncipe has a distinctive geographical feature: it is close to the Equator. The imaginary line crosses the little islet of Ilhéu das Rolas just south of São Tomé Island. This equatorial location helps the islands to maintain their constant tropical temperature, which has impacted their farming methods and natural surroundings.

Rising almost three hundred meters above the surrounding terrain, the Pico Cão Grande (Great Dog Peak) is one of the most spectacular natural monuments of São Tomé. Rising 663 meters above sea level, this soaring monolith accentuates the dramatic beauty of the São Toméan terrain and provides evidence of the volcanic beginnings of the islands.