Santa Catarina
Santiago's agricultural heartland around Assomada, producing food for the island's coastal urban population.
Santa Catarina occupies Santiago's central highlands—the agricultural heartland of Cabo Verde's largest island. Assomada, the municipal capital, functions as Santiago's second urban center after Praia, providing services and markets for surrounding farming communities.
Agriculture dominates the economy. The interior's higher elevation captures more rainfall than coastal areas, enabling cultivation of corn, beans, and vegetables. Livestock farming (cattle, goats) adds protein production. This food supply serves both local consumption and Praia's urban market.
Educational institutions in Assomada create regional service functions. Healthcare facilities, government offices, and commerce serve populations across central Santiago who would otherwise travel to Praia. This creates a secondary urban nucleus distinct from the capital.
The biological pattern is interior specialization: Santa Catarina exploits altitude and relative water availability to produce food that coastal and desert islands cannot, creating complementary economic activity within the archipelago.