the first population center was in carapacho, a zone in the southeast of the island where it is likely that settlers made landfall. owing to the areas poor fertility and lack of shelter from the sea, the settlers moved farther into the interior. in a few years a nucleus formed in the northern coast near barra and santa cruz, in order to take advantage of the sheltered coves and access to potable waters from the tidal ponds/wells. from here the colony that would become the village of santa cruz da graciosa would form.