Municipality of Tarrafal
Map
Statistics
Name of inhabitants:	Tarrafalense m, ~s pl
Seat:	Tarrafal
Island:	Santiago
Population:	18000
Area:	112.4 km²
Population density:	160/km²
National Municipal code (CGN-CV):	71
CV:	CV-TA
Website:

Tarrafal is a municipality located in the northern part of the island of Santiago in Sotavento in Cape Verde. The municipal population is around 18000, the area is 112.4 km² and the density is about 160/km². Tarrafal is located 75 km NNW of Cape Verde's capital, Praia.

Description

Tarrafal is a seaside town and fishing port on the northwestern coast of the Cape Verdean island of Santiago. It is also the name of the county in which the town resides, which covers the northern section of the island of Santiago.

The town boasts a beautiful soft-sand and palm-tree lined beach in the shadow of Monte Gordo, a distinctive mountain just north of the settlement. It is a popular vacation and tourism spot for people on the island. It has sunset views of the island of Fogo, cabins to rent, and outdoor dining with the scenic mountain or seaside views.

The town of Tarrafal is the northern anchor of the road leading through Assomada to Praia (the Cape Verdean capital). There is also a small road that leads to the most northern point of the island of Santiago.

Farmland surrounds the town to the north and east and in the southern valley areas. The Serra da Malagueta mountain range lies to the south. Grassland and bushes covers most of the area, with a couple of forests in the mountain heights.

Under Salazar the Tarrafal Concentration Camp was built on the plain south of town (Chao Bom) to contain opponents of the political regime.

There are several other settlements in Cape Verde with the same name, notably Tarrafal on the island of Sao Nicolau; however, Tarrafal on the island of Santiago is the largest and most populous.

Economy

The economy includes businesses, agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Most of the population is rural. The urban population is concentrated in the town of Tarrafal.

Parishes

The municipality includes only one parish:

• Santo Amaro Abade

Settlements

Tarrafal (town)

Tarrafal is also the name of the town that constitutes the seat of the Tarrafal Municipality.

Tarrafal has a few schools or collegiates (colegio), a few lyceums (middle schools), a gymnasium (secondary schools), churches, beaches, ports, a post office and squares (praças).

Historical population (town)

Year	Population	Change	Density
1990 (June 23, Census)	3,626	-	-
2000 (June 16, Census)	5,785	-	-
2005 (January 1, Computing)	6,463	-	460.18/km²
2008 (Computing)	6,842	-	-

External links

• Tarrafal Na Zona - web site informative about Tarrafal (Santiago)
• Câmara Municipal do Tarrafal
• ANMCV (Associação Nacional dos Municípios Cabo-Verdianos - National Association of the Capeverdean Municipalities)

	North: Atlantic Ocean
West: Atlantic Ocean	Tarrafal	East: Atlantic Ocean
	South: Santa Catarina	Southeast: São Miguel