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Pedra de Lume is a village in the northeastern part of the island of Sal, Cape Verde. The village is situated on the east coast, about 5 km east of the island capital Espargos. It has a small port and a lighthouse, Farol de Pedra de Lume.

Pedra de Lume
Settlement
Pedra de Lume
Coordinates: 16.763°N 22.895°W / 16.763; -22.895
Country	Cape Verde
Island	Sal
Municipality	Sal
Civil parish	Nossa Senhora das Dores
Elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Population  (2010)[1]
• Total	329
ID	41102

Salt ponds

Pedra de Lume has been famous for its salt evaporation ponds (salinas),[2] exploitation of which began in the 18th century. According to geologists, the waters in the lake rise from deep in the earth rather than from lateral infiltration from the ocean.[3] The salinas are situated in the crater of an extinct volcano. Together with the mountain Cagarral, the salinas and the crater form a protected landscape, covering 8.02 km² (3.10 sq mi).[4][5]

History

Pedra de Lume was founded by Manuel António Martins, who started the exploitation of the salt ponds in 1796.[6] A tunnel to the salt ponds was constructed in 1804, and a port in 1805.[7] Salt production flourished in most of the 19th century, but went into decline after 1887, when Brazil, the main export destination, imposed a ban on imported salt.[6] Salt production was revived by the French company Salins du Cap Vert, that installed an 1100 m aerial tramway for salt transport in 1921. Current production is small, and mainly intended for beauty products and thalassotherapy.[6]

Notable people

• Ildo Lobo, singer
• Mirri Lobo, singer

See also

• List of villages and settlements in Cape Verde
• List of protected areas in Cape Verde

References

External links

Media related to Pedra de Lume at Wikimedia Commons

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