Tarrafal (also: Mangui or Mangue) is a city[2] in the northern part of the island of Santiago, Cape Verde. In 2010 its population was 6,656. It is a fishing port situated on the northwestern coast. It constitutes the seat of the Tarrafal Municipality.
Tarrafal | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
View of the town of Tarrafal | |
Tarrafal | |
| Coordinates: 15.278°N 23.752°W / 15.278; -23.752 | |
| Country | Cape Verde |
| Island | Santiago |
| Municipality | Tarrafal |
| Civil parish | Santo Amaro Abade |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 6,656 |
| ID | 71120 |


The city is situated by the Baía de Tarrafal, at the foot of 643 m high Monte Graciosa.[3] Tarrafal is at the northern end of two main roads to Praia in the south, one leading through Assomada and São Domingos (EN1-ST01), the other along the east coast through Calheta de São Miguel and Pedra Badejo (EN1-ST02).
The origin of the name Tarrafal is the indigenous plant tarrafe,[3] Tamarix senegalensis.[4] The settlement was mentioned in the 1747 map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin as "Terrafal".[5] Tarrafal was the seat of the municipality of Santa Catarina from 1869 until 1912, when the seat was moved to Assomada.[6] In 1917, the municipality of Tarrafal was separated from Santa Catarina, and the town Tarrafal became its seat.[7] Between 1936 and 1974, political prisoners were held at the Tarrafal camp, south of the city. At least 32 prisoners died in the camp, which now houses a museum.[3]

| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 23 June 1990, census | 3,626 |
| 16 June 2000, census | 5,785 |
| 1 January 2005, estimate | 6,463 |
| 2010, census | 6,656 |

Subdivisions of the island of Santiago | |||||
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| Praia |
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| Ribeira Grande de Santiago |
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| Santa Catarina |
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| Santa Cruz |
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| São Domingos |
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| São Lourenço dos Órgãos |
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| São Miguel |
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| São Salvador do Mundo |
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| Tarrafal |
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