View source for Maio, Cape Verde

{{Short description|Island of Cape Verde}}
{{Other uses|Maio (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Maio
| image_name       = Bela-vista-net-Maio-map.jpg
| image_caption    =
| image_size       =
| map_image        = Image-Locator map of Maio, Cape Verde.png
| map_caption      = 
| native_name      = ''Djarmai''
| native_name_link = Cape Verdean Creole
| nickname         =
| location         = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| pushpin_map             = Cape Verde#Atlantic Ocean
| pushpin_label           = 
| pushpin_label_position  = top
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_relief          = 1
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
| coordinates      = {{coord|15|13|N|23|10|W|region:CV_dim:50000|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      =
| total_islands    =
| major_islands    =
| area_km2         = 274.5
| length_km        = 24.1
| width_km         = 16.3
| highest_mount    = [[Monte Penoso]]
| elevation_m      = 436
| demonym      = Maiense
| country          = {{CPV}}
| country_admin_divisions_title     = Municipality
| country_admin_divisions           = Maio
| country_largest_city              = [[Porto Inglês]]
| population       = 6980
| population_as_of = 2015
| density_km2 = 25.4
| ethnic_groups    =
| additional_info  =
| website = {{url|http://www.municipiodomaio.cv}}
}}

'''Maio''' is the easternmost of the [[Sotavento Islands|Sotavento]] islands of [[Cape Verde]]. Maio is located south of the island of [[Boa Vista, Cape Verde|Boa Vista]] and east of [[Santiago, Cape Verde|Santiago]]. Administratively, the island forms one ''[[Administrative divisions of Cabo Verde|concelho]]'' (municipality): Maio.

==History==
The island was discovered in 1460. It was first settled at the end of the 16th century, when the land was used to raise livestock, especially goats. Salt was first exploited in the 17th century which caused the population to grow. The English exported salt to Europe from [[Porto Inglês]], hence the name of that city.<ref name="munic">[http://municipiodomaio.cv/historia-2/ História] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908164535/http://municipiodomaio.cv/historia-2/ |date=2024-09-08 }}, Municipio do Maio</ref>

The inconclusive [[Battle of Maio]] was fought between British and French [[frigate]] squadrons off the island's southern coast on 23 January 1814 in the last stages of the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. Due to persisting drought many inhabitants emigrated from Maio in the 20th century.<ref name="munic"/>

==Geography==
The island has an area of 274.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=resumo>[http://ine.cv/censo_quadros/resumo-dos-indicadores-rgph-2010/ 2010 Census Summary]</ref> It is 24.1&nbsp;km long and 16.3&nbsp;km wide.<ref name=yearbook>[http://ine.cv/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/statistical-yearbook-cv-2015_en.pdf Cabo Verde, Statistical Yearbook 2015], [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Cape Verde)|Instituto Nacional de Estatística]]</ref>{{rp|25}} The tallest mountain on the island (436 m) is near the east coast, in a mountain range named [[Monte Penoso]].<ref name=yearbook/>{{rp|25}} [[Terras Salgadas]] is a salty plain in the far north. The northernmost point on the island is [[Ponta Cais]].<ref name=yearbook/>{{rp|26}} 20% of the island area (54.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is forested and 28% of the island area (76.0&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is a protected area.<ref name=ambiente>[http://ine.cv/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/estatisticas-do-ambiente-2016.pdf Estatísticas do Ambiente - 2016], [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Cape Verde)|Instituto Nacional de Estatística]], p. 24-25</ref> Bays includes [[Baía do Galeão]] and [[Baía da Santana]] to the north and in the southeast is a lagoon named [[Lagoa Cimidor]]. The uninhabited islet [[Ilhéu Laje Branca]] lies near its north coast. The island's main town is [[Porto Inglês]], near which its [[airport]], [[Maio Airport]] lies.

[[File:Selezione 001.png|thumb|right|City of Porto Inglês at sunset]]

==Municipality==

Administratively, the island of Maio is covered by one municipality, ''[[Administrative divisions of Cabo Verde|Concelho]] do Maio''. This municipality consists of one ''[[Administrative divisions of Cabo Verde|freguesia]]'' (civil parish), ''Nossa Senhora da Luz'', which also covers the whole island. The ''freguesia'' is subdivided into the following settlements:
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Alcatraz, Cape Verde|Alcatraz]]
*[[Barreiro, Cape Verde|Barreiro]] (town)<ref name=yearbook/>{{rp|33}}
*[[Calheta, Cape Verde|Calheta]] (town)<ref name=yearbook/>{{rp|33}}
*[[Cascabulho]]
*[[Figueira (Maio)|Figueira]]
*[[Morro, Cape Verde|Morro]]
*[[Morrinho]]
*[[Pedro Vaz, Cape Verde|Pedro Vaz]]
*[[Pilão Cão]]
*'''[[Porto Inglês]]''' (city)<ref name=yearbook/>{{rp|32}}
*[[Praia Gonçalo]]
*[[Ribeira Dom João]]
*[[Santo António (Maio)|Santo António]]
{{Div col end}}

===Politics===

Since 2004, the [[Movement for Democracy (Cape Verde)|Movement for Democracy]] (MpD) is the ruling party of the municipality. The results of the latest elections, [[Cape Verdean local elections, 2016|in 2016]]:<ref name=dgape>[http://www.dgape.cv/images/bo_23-09-2016_53.pdf Official results local elections 2016] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819102707/http://www.dgape.cv/images/bo_23-09-2016_53.pdf |date=2019-08-19 }}, ''Boletim Oficial I Série, Número 53'', 23 September 2016</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:right
!rowspan=2|Party
!colspan=2|Municipal Council
!colspan=2|Municipal Assembly
|-
!Votes%
!Seats
!Votes%
!Seats
|-
|align=left|[[Movement for Democracy (Cape Verde)|MpD]]||56.82||5||55.92||8
|-
|align=left|OIAM||40.51||0||41.07||5
|}

==Population==

In the 1830s, the population was estimated at 2,500.<ref name=Roberts>{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Edmund|title=Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat|year=1837|publisher=Harper & Brothers|location=New York|page=14|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/7317/view/1/17/}}</ref> Most people in Maio are Roman Catholic.

{{Bar chart
| title       = Population of Maio (1940—2015)
| label_type  = Year
| data_type   = Population
| bar_width   = 35
| width_units = em
| data_max    = 8000
| label1   = 1940<ref name="Stat">Source: [http://www.statoids.com/ucv.html Statoids]</ref>
| data1    = 2,237
| label2   = 1950<ref name="Stat"/>
| data2    = 1,924
| label3   = 1960<ref name="Stat"/>
| data3    = 2,680
| label4   = 1970<ref name="Stat"/>
| data4    = 3,466
| label5   = 1980<ref name="Stat"/>
| data5    = 4,098
| label6   = 1990<ref name="Stat"/>
| data6    = 4,969
| label7   = 2000<ref name="Stat"/>
| data7    = 6,742
| label8   = 2010<ref name=resumo/>
| data8    = 6,952
| label9   = 2015<ref name=yearbook/>{{rp|36}}
| data9    = 6,980
}}

==Economy==
The island prospered around [[salt]] collecting in its early days of colonialism, with a little [[agriculture]] and [[grazing]].

There are two types of agriculture practiced in Maio, rain fed and irrigated. During the raining season products as corn, beans, pumpkins and melons are being cultivated. Products that farmers cultivate year round are sweet potato, cassava, papaya, fig, coconut and tamarind. Goats, cows, pigs, chickens and donkeys are common on the island. Few people own a horse. Scarcity of water is the biggest problem for the locals.

Fishery is important and abundantly available. Tuna, sailfish and different coral fishes such as the coral hind are caught.

The economy is heavily supported by migrants who send money to their family on the island.

==Sports==
{{Main|Maio Island League}}

Football is by far the most popular sport, but basketball and futsal along with water sports as surfing, diving and swimming are becoming more popular.

==Notable people==
*[[Maria Helena da Costa Dias]], Cape Verdean born Portuguese writer and translator
*[[Edy Tavares]], basketball player
*[[Horace Silver]], jazz pianist, composer, and arranger
*[[Joana Rosa]], politician. Minister of Justice of Cape Verde (2021- )

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.municipiodomaio.cv Official website] {{in lang|pt}}
* [http://www.caboverde.com/ilhas/ymaio-it.htm caboverde.com]
* [http://www.maiocapeverde.com/ maiocapeverde.com]

{{Islands of Cape Verde}}
{{Municipalities of Cape Verde}}
{{Maio}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Maio, Cape Verde| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Islands of Cape Verde]]