Bissagos Islands

The Bissagos Islands (also Bijagos Archipelago or Bissagosinseln ) is a string of 88 islands archipelago off the coast of Guinea -Bissau in the Atlantic Ocean.

History

To pre-colonial times, the archipelago played a central role in the West African trade and its inhabitants, the Bijagos, built a powerful navy on. This allowed the Bijagos 1535 prevent the Portuguese from the conquest of the islands. In 1936 the last uprising of the Bijagos was deposited on the islands. Then they were finally affiliated to the colony Portuguese Guinea. The Bissagos Islands, together with Portuguese Guinea in 1973/74 for independent Guinea- Bissau.

Today, about 21 islands have a larger population, the other islands are only slightly inhabited. The islands Bubaque, Bolama and Caravela are the most populated. A little tourism is recorded on the islands Bubaque, Rubane, Bolama, Orango and João Vieira.

Geography

The entire archipelago was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1996. The southern islands are a nature reserve today.

The 21 largest islands are

• In the northeast (sector Bolama ): Bolama ( 98.1 km ²)
• Galinhas

• Bubaque (75 km ²)
• Meneque
• Orangozinho ( 107.0 km ²)
• Roxa (111 km ²)
• Soga
• Rubane
• João Vieira (6 km ²)

• Carache ( 80.4 km ²)
• Caravela ( 125.7 km ²)
• Formosa ( 140.3 km ²)
• Maio
• Ponta
• Unhocomo
• Unhocomozinho
• Enu

• Uno ( 104.0 km ²) (formerly Caravela sector)
• Uracane (formerly Caravela sector)
• Canogo (formerly Bubaque sector)
• Orango ( 122.7 km ²) (formerly Bubaque sector)

Located in the southeast uninhabited archipelago around the island João Vieira, with Cavalhos, Ilhéu do Meio and Poilão with a total of around 10 sq km area belongs Although administratively to the region Bolama, but not geographically to Bissagos Islands.

Demography

19 islands are more densely populated, many of the remaining islands are uninhabited, inter alia, because of their small area. The population consists largely of the approximately 33,000 members of the Bijagos people that speaks the same language: the Bijago language.

Policy

The Bissagos archipelago has a considerable degree of autonomy of Guinea- Bissau.

Economy

The traditional economy is based on fishing, the cultivation of rice and the production of palm oil. Tourism has so far played only a subordinate role.

Culture

Women play an important role in social life. The majority of people practiced animism Bissago - and believes that the so-called Iran - figures are in possession of deities and have many properties. Thus, they serve as the central object of Deity ceremonies, as a protector of households against curses and as a healer. They are situated at particular locations in the house and it brought to their victims.

Management

Administratively, the archipelago forms the Bolama region, one of the eight administrative regions of the country.