Topo da Coroa

Topo da Coroa, rarely as Tope de Coroa is a mountain on the island of Santo Antão's, Cape Verde. At 1,979 m elevation, it is the highest point of the island and the second tallest mountain of Cape Verde after Pico do Fogo (2,829 m). It is in the western part of the island. The mountain is entirely of volcanic origin. It is 25 km west of the island capital Porto Novo.

The mountain forms part of a natural park. It contains 61% of the endemic angiosperm plants of Cape Verde, of which 25% are in the red list of endangered species. The causes relate to overgrazing.

History

At the end of the 19th century, Élisée Reclus in the Géographie universelle described Topo do Coria as a caldeira summit, and descends towards the sea in the west, the east and the south, dominates a large plateau elevating around 1,630 m, several volcanic cones dominates, in groups of ranges. Reclus had evenly referenced the geologist Cornelius Doelter (1850-1930) in Die Vulcane der Capverden und ihre Producte, hte main idea of Topo da Coroa was known as the Vesuvius of a high circular summit, the volcano today is extinct.