title: Tarrafal de São Nicolau, Cape Verde
text: # Tarrafal de São Nicolau, Cape Verde
  
  Tarrafal de São Nicolau is a city in the western part of the island of São Nicolau, Cape Verde. With a population of 3,733 (2010 census), it is the most populous settlement of the island. It is the seat of the Tarrafal de São Nicolau Municipality, and the main port of the island. It is situated on the west coast, 9 km southwest of Ribeira Brava.
  
  ## Subdivisions
  
  The city is divided into neighborhoods (bairros) including:
  
  * Alto Fontaínhas
  * Alto Saco
  * Amarelo Pintado
  * Campedrada
  * Chã de Poça
  * João Baptista
  * Telha
  
  ## History
  
  Before the 19th century, the roadstead of Tarrafal was little used because it was far from the main settlement of the island, Ribeira $Brava.^{:14}$ It was mentioned as Terrafal in the 1747 map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. It became an anchorage for whaling ships in the 19th century, and fish processing infrastructure was built, leading to further growth of the $settlement.^{:14–16}$ The settlement became a town in the early $1990s^{:16}$ and a city in 2010.
  
  ## Transport
  
  The port of Tarrafal was constructed in 1991. It has 2 quays and a roll-on/roll-off ramp and a passenger terminal. The total length of the quays is 137 m, and the maximum depth is 7 m. There are ferry connections from Tarrafal to the islands of São Vicente (Mindelo) and Santiago (Praia).
  
  