Praia is a constituent republic of Verde Region.
| Praia Republic | |
|---|---|
| Island of Santiago | |
| Constituent Republic of Vekllei | |
 |
|
| Part of the Verde Region | |
| Accession | 1945, as part of the British Atlantic Territories |
| Area | 991 km² |
| Capital | Praia |
| Languages | English, Verde Creole, Portuguese |
| Population | 492,199 |
The Praia Republic (literally “Beach”) is a constituent republic of Vekllei in the Atlantic, in the southeastern fringe of the Barlavento archipelago. Its most distinctive feature is its towns, which sit on plateaus raised above the surrounding valleys – “Plateau” might have been the better name. The island is heavily forested, especially in its valleys and mountains, which is unusual for the region, and the overall effect is an unusually pretty island with a fairly insular culture of its own.
Praia is the administrative heart of eastern Verde and the seat of its federal garrison, and is the most populous of the Barlavento republics. For all that, it administers little beyond itself. Other Verde republics host major federal or international institutions – the NLTU in Sal, or the International Peace Park on Maio – but Praia has nothing of the kind, despite a welcoming culture, developed coastal towns and a pleasant climate.
The island became the Verde capital in 1858, chosen less for its geography than for the fact that it offended no established interests, while its highlands offered a defensible position over a good anchorage. A fortress was built there in phases over the following decades and has since absorbed the small islet in the harbour it once stood on; it remains the largest structure in the republic. The Portuguese colonial period also left behind salt pans and the legacy of the slave trade.
Verdean musicians fleeing drought in the 1880s found patrons among the colonial garrison and bureaucracy, and Praia developed its own strand of morna music. Informal concerts are still held around the old fortress, and the cafés near Government House keep something of the colonial-era atmosphere.
The capital, also called Praia, is well developed and has a number of tall buildings, including the fortress and the headquarters of the Commonwealth Maritime Register. It has the only underground metro in Verde, which connects to scenic rail lines running out to the republic’s mountain towns and villages. A fast train also runs to Tarrafal, the republic’s other city.
Climate
Expect heavy rains between August and October, but no precipitation at all the rest of the year. The weather is warm year-round.
Public Holidays
- New Year’s Day 1 Jan
- Heroes Day 20 Jan
- Republic Day 9 Mar
- Good Friday 30 Apr
- Commonwealth Day 1 May
- Ascension Day
- Whit Monday
- Assumption Day 15 Aug
- All Saints Day 1 Nov
- Christmas Day 25 Dec
- Ammunition
- Butter
- Eggs
- Electronic Components
- Fish
- Flour
- Glass
- Grains
- Lubricants
- Molasses
- Palm Oil
- Pulses
- Salt
- Sugar
- Government House: Colonial-period government building, now home to Praia’s parliament.
- Assomada: Colourful regional town located on a plateau in central Praia, surrounded by forested valleys.
- Verdant Gardens: Botanic gardens containing specimens of most of Praia’s nearly 300 endemic species.
- Monopole Refurbishment Facility NSRE
- Office of Undersea Research SIRO
- Atlantic Praia Store Atlantic Department Company 300
- Praia Mar Hotel Atlantic Hotel 50
- Cidade Velha Inn Atlantic Hotel 30
- Tropical Works Atlantic Works 800
- Praia Bulk Terminal Atlantis 480
- Office of Verde & Atlantic Economies Bureau of the Commons 640
- Praia Sugar Works Caribbea Cane 6,000
- Commonwealth Airways Praia Hub Commonwealth Airways 310
- Commonwealth Airfreight Praia Depot Commonwealth Airways 180
- Airlink Praia Station Commonwealth Airways 90
- Perennial Marine Arsenal Commonwealth Arsenal 3,000
- Office of Statistics Commonwealth Disease Authority
- Office of Civil Defence Commonwealth Disease Authority
- Office of Health Democracy Commonwealth Disease Authority
- Office of Laboratories Commonwealth Disease Authority
- Veletia Lines Praia Port Commonwealth Lines 600
- Transatlantic Lines Praia Terminal Commonwealth Lines 480
- Sud Gas Liquefaction Works Commonwealth Oil 340
- Ordinary Subsea Cable Landing Station Commonwealth Oil 90
- Praia Regional Post Office Commonwealth Post 700
- Praia Metropolitan Railway CommRail 1,011
- Assomada Tramways CommRail 199
- Praia Atlantic Exchange Cosma 280
- Perennial Marine Arsenal Federal Ordnance Establishment
- Praia Standards Office Federal Timekeeping 70
- Firewalk Praia Plant Firewalk 500
- Praia Nuclear Generation Establishment General Reactor 140
- Gina Praia Plant Gina 160
- Method Agriculture Works Method Heavy 1,900
- Praia NM Assembly National Machines 480
- Air Station Africa
- Fortress Praia
- Praia Citadel Saharan Division 2,430
- Africa Air Base Saharan Division 1,620
- Saharan Ordnance Magazine Saharan Division 410
- Spirit Glass Praia Plant Spirit Glass 250
- Fortress Praia