View source for Príncipe

{{Short description|Island of São Tome and Príncipe}}
{{Other uses|Principe (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox islands
| name             = Príncipe
| native_name      = <!-- or local name to remove the "native name:" prefix -->
| sobriquet        = <!-- or nickname -->
| image_name       = Tp-map.png                            
| image_size       = 
| image_caption    = Map of São Tomé and Príncipe with Príncipe island near the right top corner
| image_alt        = 
| locator_map      = 
| locator_map_size = 
| map_caption      = 
| location         = [[Gulf of Guinea]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|1|37|N|7|24|E|region:ST_type:isle|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = [[Cameroon line]]
| total_islands    = 
| major_islands    = 
| area_km2         = 136
| area_footnotes   = 
| rank             = 
| length_km        = <!-- or length m  -->
| length_footnotes = 
| width_km         = <!-- or width m  -->
| width_footnotes  =
| coastline_km     = <!-- or coastline m  -->
| coastline_footnotes = 
| elevation_m      = 947
| elevation_footnotes = 
| highest_mount    = [[Pico de Príncipe]]
| country = [[São Tomé and Príncipe]] 
| country_admin_divisions_title     = Districts
| country_admin_divisions           = 1 ([[Autonomous Region of Príncipe|Pagué]])
| country_capital  = [[Santo António]]
| demonym          = Príncipean or Principean
| population       = 8,420
| population_as_of = 2018
| density_km2      = 59.3
| density_footnotes = <ref name="Instituto Nacional de Estatística">Instituto Nacional de Estatística.</ref>
| ethnic_groups    = 
| website          = 
| area_code = [[+239|00239-19x-xxxx?]]
}}

'''Príncipe''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|ɪ|n|s|ᵻ|p|ə|,_|-|p|eɪ}};<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yourdictionary.com/sao-tome#americanheritage |title=São Tomé – Definition of São Tomé |publisher=Yourdictionary.com |date=25 September 2013 |access-date=29 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003020849/http://www.yourdictionary.com/sao-tome#americanheritage |archive-date=3 October 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{IPA|pt|ˈpɾĩsɨpɨ|lang}}) is the smaller, northern major island of the [[country]] of [[São Tomé and Príncipe]] lying off the west coast of Africa in the [[Gulf of Guinea]].<ref>[http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_sao_tome.htm "Satellite View and Map of São Tomé and Príncipe"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607221811/https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_sao_tome.htm |date=2023-06-07 }} ''Nations Online''. Retrieved 2014-9-26.</ref> It has an area of {{convert|142|km²|0|abbr=out}} (including offshore islets) and a population of 7,324 at the 2012 Census;<ref name=census12>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181019115251/https://www.ine.st/index.php/informacoes-estatisticas/ipc2/file/270-projeccao-a-nivel-distrital-2012-2020 Projecção a nível distrital 2012 – 2020], [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (São Tomé and Príncipe)|Instituto Nacional de Estatística]]</ref> the latest official estimate (at May 2018) was 8,420.<ref name="Instituto Nacional de Estatística">Instituto Nacional de Estatística.</ref> The island is a heavily eroded volcano speculated to be over three million years old, surrounded by smaller islands including [[Ilheu Bom Bom]], [[Ilhéu Caroço]], [[Tinhosa Grande]] and [[Tinhosa Pequena]]. Part of the [[Cameroon Line]] archipelago, Príncipe rises in the south to 947 metres at [[Pico do Príncipe]].<ref name=nga>{{cite enroute|123|2017|74}}</ref> The island is the main constituent of the [[Autonomous Region of Príncipe]], established in 1995, and of the coterminous [[Districts of São Tomé and Príncipe|district]] of [[Autonomous Region of Príncipe|Pagué]].

==History==
[[File:Principe.jpeg|thumb|Entrance to the harbour of Principe, from a 1727 engraving: the accompanying text was, ''This Island is very Woody and breeds abundance of [[Monkey]]s, insomuch that it is not safe to walk in the Woods without a gun. The harbour is very convenient to [[Careening|Careen]] Ships in, and most Ships [[Atlantic slave trade|Bound from Africa to America with Slaves]] put in here for Food, Water etc."'']]
The island was uninhabited when discovered by the Portuguese on 17 January 1471 and was first named after Saint Anthony ("Ilha de Santo Antão"). Later the island was renamed Príncipe ("Prince's [Island]") by King [[John II of Portugal]] in honour of his son [[Afonso, Hereditary Prince of Portugal]] (1475–1491). The first settlement, the town [[Santo António]], was founded in 1502.<ref name=hpip>[http://www.hpip.org/def/en/Contents/Navigation/GeographicToponymicNavigation/Place?a=236 Santo António] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213195752/http://www.hpip.org/def/en/Contents/Navigation/GeographicToponymicNavigation/Place?a=236 |date=2019-12-13 }}, Heritage of Portuguese Influence</ref> Subsequently, the north and centre of the island were made into [[plantation]]s by [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese colonists]] abusing [[Slavery in Africa|slave labor]]. These concentrated initially on producing [[Cane sugar|sugar]] and after 1822 on [[Theobroma cacao|cocoa]], becoming the world's greatest cocoa producer.<ref>Pinnock, D & Pinnock, G (2012) Chocolate Island. Africa Geographic. February 2012</ref> Since independence, these exploitative plantations have largely reverted to forest.

The island's fortress named [[Fortaleza de Santo António da Ponta da Mina]] on a point inside Baía de Santo António (Santo António Bay) was built in 1695.<ref name=hpip/> In 1706, the city and the fortress were destroyed by the French.<ref name=hpip/> From 1753 until 1852, Santo António was the colonial [[Capital (political)|capital]] of [[Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6SufcWs47LgC&pg=PA73|title=The History of Central and Eastern Africa|last=McKenna|first=Amy|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2011|isbn=9781615303229|via=Google Books|pages=73}}</ref>

Príncipe was the site where [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]]'s [[theory of relativity]] was experimentally corroborated by [[Arthur Stanley Eddington]] and his team during the total [[solar eclipse of May 29, 1919]]; photographs of the eclipse revealed evidence of the bending of [[starlight]], in accordance with Einstein's predictions (see [[Eddington experiment]]).

On April 29, 1995, the [[Autonomous Region of Príncipe]] was established, corresponding with the existing [[Autonomous Region of Príncipe|Pagué District]].<ref>[https://www.repository.utl.pt/bitstream/10400.5/2392/1/Disserta%C3%A7%C3%A3o_anabarreira_FINAL_Vers%C3%A3o_Definitiva.pdf Cooperação Descentralizada Príncipe – Portugal: Eficiência da Existência de Redes de Cooperação] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814175153/http://www.repository.utl.pt///bitstream/10400.5/2392/1/Disserta%C3%A7%C3%A3o_anabarreira_FINAL_Vers%C3%A3o_Definitiva.pdf |date=2017-08-14 }} (2010), Ana Maria Luciano Barreira, [[Universidade Técnica de Lisboa]], p. 42-43</ref>

==Settlements==
{{see also|Autonomous Region of Príncipe#Settlements}}
Príncipe has one town, [[Santo António]], and an [[Príncipe Airport|airport]] ([[IATA airport code|IATA code]]: PCP, [[ICAO airport code|ICAO]]: FPPR). Some other smaller settlements are [[Sundy, São Tomé and Príncipe|Sundy]] and [[Porto Real, São Tomé and Príncipe|Porto Real]].

==Demographics==
[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] is the official and main language of the island. [[Portuguese-based creole languages|Portuguese creoles]] are also spoken: [[Principense language|Principense]] or Lunguyê and, in some scale, [[Forro language|Forro]] are also spoken.

In 1771, Príncipe had a population of 5,850: 111 whites, 165 free mulattoes, 6 mulatto slaves, 900 free blacks, and 4,668 black slaves. In 1875, the year when slavery was officially abolished in the archipelago, Príncipe's population had dropped to only 1,946, of whom 45 were Europeans, 1,521 were free natives, and 380 were freemen.

In 2018, Príncipe had a population of 8,420 people.

==Nature==
In 2006, the [[Parque Natural Obô do Príncipe]] was established, covering the mountainous, densely forested and uninhabited southern part of the island of Príncipe.<ref name="PRI">{{cite web|url=https://arleciosoares13.wordpress.com/areas-protegidas/parque-natural-do-principe/|title=Parque Natural do Príncipe|access-date=19 October 2018|archive-date=7 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107071549/https://arleciosoares13.wordpress.com/areas-protegidas/parque-natural-do-principe/|url-status=live}}</ref> There are numerous endemic species of fauna on Príncipe, including birds such as the [[Principe scops owl]], the [[Príncipe kingfisher]], [[Príncipe seedeater]], [[Principe starling]], [[Príncipe sunbird]], [[Dohrn's thrush-babbler]] and the [[Príncipe weaver]]. The [[Príncipe white-eye]] also occurs on [[São Tomé]]. Geckos include the [[Hemidactylus principensis|Príncipe gecko]], frogs include the [[palm forest tree frog]] and the [[Phrynobatrachus dispar|Príncipe puddle frog]]. Marine fauna includes ''[[Muricopsis principensis]]'', a mollusc and the [[West African mud turtle]].

=== Some endemic animals ===

<gallery>
Príncipe sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii) male.jpg|[[Príncipe sunbird]]
Príncipe golden weaver (Ploceus princeps) male.jpg|[[Príncipe golden weaver]]
Príncipe speirops (Zosterops leucophaeus).jpg|[[Príncipe speirops]]
Principe glossy starling (Lamprotornis ornatus).jpg|[[Principe glossy starling]]
Príncipe puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus dispar).jpg|[[Phrynobatrachus dispar|Príncipe puddle frog]]
Oceanic tree frog (Hyperolius drewesi).jpg|[[Hyperolius drewesi|Oceanic tree frog]]
 </gallery>

===Ecological reserve===
{{main|Island of Príncipe Biosphere Reserve}}

[[UNESCO]] established the [[Island of Príncipe Biosphere Reserve]] in 2012 under the [[Man and the Biosphere Programme]]. The reserve encompasses the entire emerged area of the island of Príncipe, and its islets Bom Bom, Boné do Jóquei, Mosteiros, Santana, and Pedra da Galei, and the Tinhosas islands.<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web|title=World Network of Biosphere Reserves|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/africa/sao-tome-and-principe/the-island-of-principe/|website=Island of Príncipe|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=1 June 2016|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809072358/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/africa/sao-tome-and-principe/the-island-of-principe/|url-status=live}}</ref> The biosphere was extended in 2025 to [[São Tomé (island)|São Tomé]], making São Tomé and Príncipe the first country to be designated as such in its entirety.<ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2025 |title=The Bright Side: UNESCO designates 26 new biosphere reserves including France's Lake Bourget |url=https://www.france24.com/en/environment/20250927-the-bright-side-unesco-designates-26-new-biosphere-reserves-including-france-s-lake-bourget |access-date=27 September 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Damião Vaz d'Almeida]], former Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
*[[João Paulo Cassandra]], former autonomous president of the island (2005-2006)
*[[José Cassandra]], former autonomous president of the island (2006-2020)
*[[Sara Pinto Coelho]], colonial born Portuguese writer
*[[Camilo Domingos]], singer
*[[Manuela Margarido]], writer
*[[Nuno Espírito Santo]], association football goalkeeper and manager

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Praia Boi.jpg|''Praia do Boi'', in Príncipe
File:Praia Banana - panoramio.jpg|''Praia das Bananas'', São Tomé and Príncipe
File:Principe Island 3441.jpg|[[Carambola]] in Príncipe
File:Principe 3181.jpg|''Lagoa do Caixão'', Príncipe Island
File:Principe 1220.jpg|Beach in Príncipe
File:Igreja Nossa Senhora da Conceicao (21130421485).jpg|''Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição'', in [[Santo António]], São Tomé and Príncipe.
File:Bom Bom Island Bridge (21050088389).jpg|Bom Bom Islet, Príncipe
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links}}
{{Portal|São Tomé and Príncipe|Geography}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20181003205144/http://www.janelanaweb.com/viagens/mprincipe.html Map of Príncipe]}}
* [http://www.principe.st Principe portal]
* [https://www.ft.com/content/d52bb102-3a36-11e3-9243-00144feab7de "Príncipe: a haven on earth"] ''Financial Times''
*{{Wikiatlas|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Sao Tome and Principe}}

{{Pagué}}
{{Islands of São Tomé and Príncipe}}
{{STP-districts}}
{{Portuguese overseas empire}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Principe}}
[[Category:Príncipe| ]]
[[Category:Former Portuguese colonies]]
[[Category:Islands of São Tomé and Príncipe]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Autonomous regions]]