Annobón | ||
---|---|---|
Province | ||
|
||
Country | Equatorial Guinea | |
Capital | San Antonio de Palé | |
Area | ||
• Total | 17 km2 (7 sq mi) | |
Population (2015) | ||
• Total | 5,232 | |
• Density | 310/km2 (800/sq mi) |
Annobón Province is a small province of Equatorial Guinea consisting of the island of Annobón and its associated islets in the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean's Cameroon Line. The provincial capital is San Antonio de Palé on the north side of the island; the other town is Mabana, formerly known as San Pedro. The roadstead is relatively safe, and some passing vessels take advantage of it in order to obtain water and fresh provisions, of which Annobon offers an abundant supply. However, there is no regular shipping service to the rest of Equatorial Guinea, and ships call as infrequently as every few months. During the 2015 census, it had 5,232 inhabitants, a small population increase from the 5,008 registered by the 2001 census. The official language is Spanish but most of the inhabitants speak a creole form of Portuguese. The island's main industries are fishing and timbering.
"Annobón", also spelled Annabon and Anabon and formerly as Anno Bom and Annabona, derives its name from Ano Bom (lit. "Good Year"). It was named for the date of its discovery by the Portuguese on New Year's Day (Portuguese: Dia do Anno Bom) in 1473.
During the final years of the Nguema administration, the island was called Pigalu and Pagalu, from the Portuguese papagaio ("parrot").