Santa Maria (Kap Verde)

Santa Maria is situated in the southern part of the island municipality of Sal, Cape Verde which has recently became a fishing and touristic city. Santa Maria is located about 16 km south of the Amílcar Cabral International Airport, and 20 km south of the island capital Espargos. Until 2007, its geography only parts are composed of small barren grasslands surrounding the town and Ponta de Leme Velho, sand dunes with saline marshes dominated the rest of the area. The duneless part of Sal is more than 2 km northwest. The length of the portion of the island around the city for 4 km is no longer than about 3.5 km.About the cityThe church of Nossa Senhora das Dores is located in town and serves as the seat of the parish. The main square is named Marcelo Leitão. Rua Amílcar Cabral is its main street.It has two points, Ponta do Sinó in the southwest which is also the island's southernmost point with its own lighthouse and the in the southeast side known as Ponta Preta do Sul. Around its shores, sharks and sea turtles are found. Around a kilometer north of the center is the Santa Maria Saltpans, tracks are in grid plan running 75 degrees towards the east, it is also a protected countryside Further north, made in the late 2000s, is the solar electricity generating station and serves the whole island, since the early 2010s, it is the only source of electricity on the island.The only foreign consulate in Santa Maria is the French consulate of the island of Sal.