Special Sub-Topic: São Tomé and Príncipe Click Here To Play: São Tomé and Príncipe

As one might assume, São Tomé and Príncipe are the names of the two major islands of this nation. In kilometers, approximately how far apart are these islands?

140. Príncipe is located approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles) northeast of São Tomé. Located at approximately 1 00 N, 7 00 E, São Tomé and Príncipe lies close to both the equator and Prime Meridian.

Príncipe contains approximately 96% of the nation's population and has an area about six times that of São Tomé.

False. It is actually the other way around. São Tomé is by far the larger island with an area of 854 km² and an estimated 2007 population of 192,000.

In what body of water off the coast of Africa is São Tomé and Príncipe located?

Gulf of Guinea. The 'center of the surface of the Earth,' (intersection of the equator and Prime Meridian) is located in the Gulf of Guinea. The Gulf of Guinea's boundaries form a circle extending from Cape Palmas in Liberia to Cape Lopez in Gabon.

What country on the African mainland is the closest to São Tomé and Príncipe with a distance of only 250 and 225 kilometers between the two islands?

Gabon. Individuals travelling from São Tomé and Príncipe to the African mainland usually land in Gabon's capital city Libreville or one of its other major ports, namely Port Gentil and Gamba.

Which of the following is NOT true regarding the nation of São Tomé and Príncipe?

The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were inhabited by indigenous populations before the arrival of Europeans in 1469.. When Europeans first landed on the islands in 1469 they were uninhabited. The islands' strategic location with the African mainland encouraged the establishment of trading bases.

São Tomé and Príncipe is the smallest nation in the world with this as its official language.

Portuguese. Not surprisingly, São Tomé and Príncipe's official language is that of the European nation under which it was governed.

Who was the island of São Tomé named after because it was on his 'feast day,' July 3, that discoverers landed on the island?

Saint Thomas the Apostle. Among other things, Saint Thomas the Apostle is the patron saint of architects, blind people, builders, geometricians, and theologians.

São Tomé and Príncipe is the only nation in the world with this as its currency. This currency replaced the escudo in 1977 and is divided into 100 cêntimos.

Dobra. The most common dobra coins come in values of 100, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000. The most common banknotes are valued at 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 dobras. The ariary is the currency used in Madagascar, the birr is used in Ethiopia, and the lilangeni is used in Swaziland.

For approximately 500 years after its founding, the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were named after this man who is considered to be their discoverer. Who was he?

Fernão do Pó. The 15th century explorer Fernão do Pó explored the islands of Bioko and São Tomé and Príncipe and locales on the African mainland in the present day countries of Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. His discoveries were made in the early 1470s under the financing of King Alfonso V. Prior to independence on 12 July 1975 the island was called Fernao Po.

Which of the following best describes the flag of São Tomé and Príncipe?

It contains three horizontal bands of green, yellow, and green with two black five-pointed stars and a red triangle.. The color scheme (green, yellow, red) of the flag of Ethiopia has been adopted by many African countries after they attained independence. These colors became so prevalent on the flags of Africa that green, yellow, and red are known as the pan-African colors. Five horizontal bands of blue, white, red, white, and blue with a circle of 10 yellow, five-pointed stars is the description for the flag of Cape Verde Islands. Three vertical bands of green, yellow, and red with a green five-pointed star is the description for the flag of Senegal. Four horizontal bands of red, yellow, blue, and green is the description for the flag of Mauritius.

São Tomé and Príncipe's fertile volcanic soil have allowed settlers to engage in agriculture on the islands for hundreds of years. This export was by far the most important to the islands and it became so prevalent that Africa's trade in this was centered on the islands.

Sugar. Many of the workers who worked in the production of sugar were Jewish individuals that had been expelled from Europe and slaves who were imported from the African mainland. Coffee and cocoa became major crops on the islands during the 1800s.

Similar to many other African nations, the people of São Tomé and Príncipe started to passionately voice their desires to become an independent nation during the 1950s. The overthrow of Marcelo Caetano in the land of the islands' colonial ruler is likely the most important impetus behind São Tomé and Príncipe becoming an independent nation. On July 12 of what year did São Tomé and Príncipe achieve its independence, a mere 16 months after Marcelo Caetano was removed from power abroad.

1975. The main political party in the early years of São Tomé and Príncipe's independence was the 'Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe' or MLSTP. The first president of the country was Manuel Pinto da Costa.

What is the highest point located on the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe? This massive shield volcano rises to a height of 2,024 meters (6,640 feet) above sea level.

Pico de São Tomé. Pico de São Tomé rises from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean and its total height is over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet). Le Kartala at 2,360 meters (7,743 feet) is the highest point in the Comoros. Thabana Ntlenyana at 3,482 meters (11,424 feet) is the highest point in Lesotho. Loma Mansa at 1,948 meters (6,391 feet) is the highest point in Sierra Leone.

The overwhelming majority of the populace of São Tomé and Príncipe are considered Roman Catholics. Of the following denominations, which one do less than one percent of the population of São Tomé and Príncipe follow?

Jehovah's Witness. According to the 2001 census, São Tomé and Príncipe's major religions by percentage of the population are as follows: Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4%.

Although free elections have been held in São Tomé and Príncipe since 1991, the nation's government and economy have remained very unstable. Which of the following is NOT true regarding the country's recent instability?

The United States' embassy in São Tomé and Príncipe was invaded by rebel forces in November 2004.. The United States does not have an embassy in São Tomé and Príncipe. The United States' ambassador to Gabon makes periodic visits to the islands. São Tomé and Príncipe median age in 2007 was 16.2 years, its fertility rate was 5.5 children born per woman, and like much of Africa its populace faces a high degree of risk from diseases like malaria and typhoid fever.