Maio - history of Maio, Cape Verde

History
The island was discovered on the 1st of May 1460 by the Portuguese navigators Diego Gomes and Antonio de Noli, and it was from the name of this month that the island "Maio" got its name.The economic activity of the island at the time was limited basically to the breeding of goats. Later, at the beginning of the XVII century,the production of salt brought more people to the island.As many English ships stopped here to get supplies, the port became known as Porto Inglês, which means English Port.In the XIX century, the export of salt to Brazil greatly boosted the economy. During the XX century, emmigration began and steadily increased. Life in Cabo Verde was difficult, mainly due to the terrible droughts that hit the country year after year.


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