Sao Tome and Principe , enrique

São Tomé and Príncipe and Prince Enrique

São Tomé and Príncipe is the name of an island nation, rather than a single city, in the Gulf of Guinea in west-central Africa. The country consists of the two main islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding reefs, with the city of São Tomé as its capital. The name Infante D. Henrique is actually Prince Henrique, a 15th-century Portuguese navigator whose name is closely associated with the history of São Tomé and Principe.

Geographic location and natural features

São Tomé and Principe is located about 300 kilometers west of the African continent, slightly north of the equator. The country covers an area of approximately 1,001 square kilometers and is characterized by a volcanic landscape with tropical rainforests and fertile soils. Its highest peak, São Tomé, is 2,024 meters above sea level, and it is rich in biodiversity and is known as the "Galapagos of Africa".

Historical Background and Prince Enrique

Discovered in 1470 by Portuguese navigators influenced by Prince Enrique's voyages, the archipelago was named São Tomé (in honor of São Tomé) and Principe (meaning "Prince's Island"), and from the 16th century onwards became a transit point for sugar cane cultivation and the slave trade, before gaining independence from Portugal in 1975.

Economic and Cultural Characteristics

The economy is based on agriculture (cocoa, coffee) and tourism, and the capital city of São Tomé retains its colonial architecture and Catholic culture. Prince Enrique's seafaring heritage is reflected in the local language (Portuguese is the official language) and in the European-African fusion of cultural practices.