Where is Príncipe located?
Príncipe lies in the Gulf of Guinea, off the west coast of Africa, forming the smaller, northern main island of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Questions about Príncipe
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How big is Príncipe and how many people live there?
Príncipe covers 142 square kilometers including its offshore islets. It had a population of 7,324 at the 2012 census, rising to an estimated 8,420 by May 2018.
Why is Príncipe significant in the history of physics?
Príncipe is where the astronomer Arthur Stanley Eddington and his team observed the total solar eclipse of the 29th of May 1919. Their photographs showed starlight bending near the sun, corroborating Einstein's theory of relativity.
What crops were grown on Príncipe's colonial plantations?
Portuguese colonists first grew sugar on Príncipe using slave labor, then switched to cocoa after 1822, making the island the world's greatest cocoa producer. Since independence, most of those plantations have grown back into forest.
When did Príncipe become an autonomous region?
Príncipe became the Autonomous Region of Príncipe on the 29th of April 1995, matching the boundaries of the existing Pagué District.
Who are some notable people from Príncipe?
Notable people connected to Príncipe include former prime minister Damião Vaz d'Almeida, autonomous presidents João Paulo Cassandra and José Cassandra, writer Sara Pinto Coelho, singer Camilo Domingos, writer Manuela Margarido, and footballer and manager Nuno Espírito Santo.