SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

Sao Tome and Principe officially the Democratic Republic of São Tome and Príncipe, is an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Africa. It consists of two islands: Sao Tomé and Príncipe, located about 140 km apart and about 250 and 225 km respectively, off of the northwestern coast of Gabon. Both islands are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range. Sao Tome, the sizable southern island, is situated almost exactly on the equator. It is named after Saint Thomas by Portuguese explorers discovered the island on his feast day.

Location

Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Geography

The smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous.

Capital

Sao Tome

Climate

Tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

Language

Portuguese (official)

Monetary Unit

Dobra (STD)

Largest Cities

Sao Tome

Principal rivers

Senegal

Airports

Porto Alegre, PCP Principe Is, TMS Sao Tome Island