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Cape Verde - Island of Sal |
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The island measures 30km by 12km with long white sandy beaches ( the longest
at Santa Maria is 8km ) and an abundance of bars, restaurants, shops and
markets. The international airport makes Sal the gateway to the Cape Verde Islands.
Sal ( the name taken form its now disused salt mines ) is the most developed of all the islands and has the largest number of tourists who come mainly for the watersports : scuba diving in particular is popular given the colourful sea life in the area. Among the islands' most colourful fauna are its coral and fish, especially in
the waters around Sal, where you'll see parrot fish, barracuda and moray eels.
You might also spot blue and humpback whales, the narrow-snouted dolphin, harbour porpoise and loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles. A soak in the salt lagoon at the Pedro Lume salt mines, where the salinity is on par with the dead
sea, is a must when visiting the island.
Places to visit
Santa Maria
Santa Maria at the southern tip of Sal is one of the main tourist towns on the
island. It is home to a beautiful white sandy beach and pretty single storey houses washed in pink, pale blue, yellow and terracotta. The salt pits of Santa Maria, although no longer in use, lie about 1km from the town and are well worth a visit.
Pedra Do Lume
A long extinct crater where the salt of the island was found. The crater is at sea level and even though the sea is about 1km away the water manages to find a
way in. You enter the crater by means of an artificial tunnel that was built in 1804.
Palmeira
A port town built to receive cargo ships. You can take a tour of the salt purifying stations or visit the lobster farms where you can buy a lobster at very reasonable prices!
Buracona
This is a stunning natural swimming pool which fills and empties according to the tides.
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