Geography of São Nicolau

São Nicolau (343 km2) is one of the Barlovento group of islands of Cape Verde. The highest point is Monte Gordo, at 1,304 m, and the capital, Ribeira Brava, is located inland, unlike the capital of Brava, Nova Sintra, which is located on the coast. It is an extremely precipitous island of towering cliffs (above 200 m), deep ravines and valleys (e.g., Fajã, Ribeira da Prata and Ribeira Funda), and mountains and peaks that soar to over 1,000 m. Most beaches are of black sand (basaltic in origin and non-organogenous), but there are many stretches of gravel and shingle. The northern flank is considerably wetter than the southern, especially between Ribeira da Prata and Cachaço, and in the eastern sector around Alto das Cabaças. The trade winds generate fog cover in these areas and temperatures are cooler. Average annual rainfall is around 200 mm, although it is higher in mountainous areas and very scant in the south, where the landscape is arid and bleak.