Time Zone |
Africa/Sao_Tome |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Africa/Sao_Tome |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in west-central Africa, consisting of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding islets, with the capital, São Tomé, located in the northeastern part of São Tomé. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, about 200 kilometers from the African continent, the country was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century and became independent in 1975, with Portuguese as the official language and an economy based on agriculture (cocoa, palm oil) and tourism. It should be noted that "Java" is not a city or region of the country; Java is the main island of Indonesia, with cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, and has nothing to do with São Tomé and Príncipe, possibly due to a confusion of names.
São Tomé and Príncipe is the name of an island nation, rather than a single city, in the Gulf of Guinea in west-central Africa. The country consists of the two main islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding reefs, with the city of São Tomé as its capital. The name Infante D. Henrique is actually Prince Henrique, a 15th-century Portuguese navigator whose name is closely associated with the history of São Tomé and Principe.
São Tomé and Principe is located about 300 kilometers west of the African continent, slightly north of the equator. The country covers an area of approximately 1,001 square kilometers and is characterized by a volcanic landscape with tropical rainforests and fertile soils. Its highest peak, São Tomé, is 2,024 meters above sea level, and it is rich in biodiversity and is known as the "Galapagos of Africa".
Discovered in 1470 by Portuguese navigators influenced by Prince Enrique's voyages, the archipelago was named São Tomé (in honor of São Tomé) and Principe (meaning "Prince's Island"), and from the 16th century onwards became a transit point for sugar cane cultivation and the slave trade, before gaining independence from Portugal in 1975.
The economy is based on agriculture (cocoa, coffee) and tourism, and the capital city of São Tomé retains its colonial architecture and Catholic culture. Prince Enrique's seafaring heritage is reflected in the local language (Portuguese is the official language) and in the European-African fusion of cultural practices.