Barlavento Islands

The Barlavento islands (literally, the Windward), is the northern island group of Cape Verde archipelago. Its total area is 2230 km².

It can be divided into two groups: Santo Antão (779 km²), São Vicente (227 km²), São Nicolau (388 km²), Santa Luzia (35 km²) islands and Branco and Raso islets lie to the west and are rocky, volcanic, agricultural islands.

Sal (216 km²) and Boa Vista (620 km²) lie to the east and are flat, desert islands with economies once based on salt and now turning to tourism, having more in common with Maio among the Sotavento.

Minor islets include Ilhéu de Sal-Rei and Ilhéu do Baluarte (or Ilhéu do Roque) off Boa Vista, Ilhéu dos Pássaros off São Vicente and Ilhéu Rabo de Junco off Sal.

Mindelo on São Vicente is the most populated city followed by Espargos on Sal, Porto Novo on Santo Antão, Santa Maria also on Sal and Ribeira Brava on São Nicolau.

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