Brava is a volcanic island in the Cape Verde group. It is the smallest inhabited island of Cape Verde, one of the Sotaventos. First settled in the 1540s, its population grew after Mount Fogo on neighbouring Fogo erupted in 1675. Its main industry was long whaling, but the island is now primarily agricultural. The island's main town is Vila Nova Sintra.
Volcanic activity on the island has been mainly located along three sets of lineaments, which all intersect at the crest of ground that forms the highest part of the island. Brava has no documented historical eruptions, but its youthful volcanic morphology and the fact that earthquake swarms still occur indicate the potential for future eruptions.
The municipality has no municipal boundaries which means it is encircled with the Atlantic Ocean.
Brava is the only inhabited island in Cape Verde without an active airport and was severely damaged by Tropical Storm Beryl in 1982. Former inhabitants of the island include Eugénio Tavares.
Population: around 6,800 (1991), 4,296 (2001) Density: around 101.49/km² ISO 3166-2:CV: CV-BR Area: 67 km² Name of inhabitants: Bravense Municipality: Vila Nova Sintra (population: 1,500 1991, 1,882 2001) It is part of the district of Sotavento. The places include Nova Sintra.
The island has schools, a lyceum, a gymnasia, churches, and a square (praça) including one in honour of the famous musician Eugene Tavares.
All of the five villages lie north of the mountaintop, which has four main roads including Furna - Vila Nova Sintra and Fajã de Agua and south to Nova Sintra do Monte and slightly south of the mountaintop. The two large islands north of Brava are uninhabited. The mountain valleys dominate the south, the east and the west. The north has a few valleys.
North of Brava are two small islands with 4 islets, 3 of them are west of Ilh(e)u de Cima. The islands are Ilh(e)u Grande (Portuguese for Large Island or Big Island) and Ilh(e)u de Cima.
The island is part of the Sotavento (Portuguese for islands under the wind) island chain and is located west of Fogo. Precipitation arrives from the trade wind clouds. It lies in the lee of the enormous Fogo volcano. The island is covered with a leeward cloud so that evaporation is reduced and the vegetation is more abundant. The island is inhabited. Key inhabited places include the village of Vila Nova Sintra. The village of Furna has a commercial port.
Wikipedia - Brava Island
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