Pedra de Lume
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Settlement
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  Pedra de Lume
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| Coordinates: 16°45′47″N 22°53′42″W / 16.763°N 22.895°W / 16.763; -22.895 | |
| Country | Cape Verde |
| Island | Sal |
| Municipality | Sal |
| Civil parish | Nossa Senhora das Dores |
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Population
(2010)[1]
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| • Total | 329 |
| ID | 41102 |
Pedra de Lume is a village in the northeastern part of the island of Sal, Cape Verde. The village is situated on the east coast, about 5 km east of the island capital Espargos. It has a small port and a lighthouse, Farol de Pedra de Lume.
Pedra de Lume has been famous for its salt evaporation ponds (salinas),[2] exploitation of which began in the 18th century. According to geologists, the waters in the lake rise from deep in the earth rather than from lateral infiltration from the ocean.[3] The salinas are situated in the crater of an extinct volcano. Together with the mountain Cagarral, the salinas and the crater form a protected landscape, covering 8.02 km2 (3.10 sq mi).[4][5]
Pedra de Lume was founded by Manuel António Martins, who started the exploitation of the salt ponds in 1796.[6] A tunnel to the salt ponds was constructed in 1804, and a port in 1805.[7] Salt production flourished in most of the 19th century, but went into decline after 1887, when Brazil, the main export destination, imposed a ban on imported salt.[6] Salt production was revived by the French company Salins du Cap Vert, that installed an 1100 m aerial tramway for salt transport in 1921. Current production is small, and mainly intended for beauty products and thalassotherapy.[6]
Media related to Pedra de Lume at Wikimedia Commons
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The island of Sal, Cape Verde
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