![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/Location-of-Annobon-in-the-Gulf-of-Guinea-300x188.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>The provincial capital is San Antonio de Pal\u00e9<\/a> on the north side of the island; the other town is Mabana, formerly known as San Pedro. The roadstead<\/a> is relatively safe, and some passing vessels take advantage of it in order to obtain water and fresh provisions, of which Annobon has offered an abundant supply. However, there is no regular shipping service to the rest of Equatorial Guinea, and ships call as infrequently as every few months. According to the 2015 census it had 5,232 inhabitants, a small population increase from the 5,008 registered by the 2001 census. The official language is Spanish but most of the inhabitants speak a creole form of Portuguese. The island’s main industries are fishing and timbering.<\/p>\n Annob\u00f3n derives its name from Ano Bom (lit. “Good Year”). It was named for the date of its discovery by the Portuguese on New Year’s Day (Portuguese: Dia do Ano Bom) in 1473.<\/p>\n During the final years of the<\/p>\n administration, the island was called Pigalu and Pagalu, from the Portuguese papagaio (parrot).<\/p>\n The island was discovered by the Portuguese on January 1, 1473; it obtained its name from that date (“New Year”). However, Spanish explorer Diego Ramirez de la Diaz first spotted the island in 1470 and named it San Antonio. It was apparently uninhabited until colonized under the Portuguese from 1474, primarily by Africans from Angola<\/a> via S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 Island. These slaves (who the Portuguese called escravos de regate) are considered the first members of Annobonese society.<\/p>\n Beginning in the early sixteenth century, many of these slaves who were now marrying Europeans gave birth to the next generations of Annobonese who were called forros (slaves about to be free). Forros began to develop a distinct identity and socio-economic powers. This period also saw the emergence of the Creole Annobonese language.<\/p>\n The island was passed to Spain by the 1778 Treaty of El Pardo<\/a>. The treaty granted Spain control of the Portuguese islands of Annob\u00f3n and Fernando Po (now Bioko) and the Guinea coast between the Niger<\/a> and the Ogoou\u00e9<\/a> in exchange for Spanish acceptance of the Portuguese occupation of territories in Brazil<\/a> west of the line established by the Treaty of Tordesillas<\/a>. The Spanish colony thus formed would eventually be known as Spanish Guinea.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The island’s populace was opposed to the arrangement and hostile toward the Spaniards. After the handover and when the Spanish flag was hoisted to affirm Spanish sovereignty, the islanders revolted against the newcomers, in part because they were considered heretical for placing dogs on their flag. (The actual design represents lions.) They expelled them according to a tradition of throwing witches to the sea. A state of anarchy ensued, leading to an arrangement by which the island was administered by a body of five natives, each of whom held the office of governor during the period that elapsed until ten ships landed at the island. This autonomous government continued, with the island claimed by both Spain and Portugal, until the authority of Spain was re-established in the latter part of the 19th century. The island briefly became part of the Elobey, Annob\u00f3n and Corisco colony<\/a> until 1909.<\/p>\n The British erected a fort at “St Antony” in 1801, eventually legalized through a lease from the Spanish government in 1827. The base was used by the British to suppress the Atlantic slave trade<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the final years of the administration of Francisco Mac\u00edas Nguema<\/a>, the first president of Equatorial Guinea, the island was called Pigalu or Pagalu. The population felt prejudice against them in Equatorial Guinea and some began advocating separatist movements. In 1993, the central government isolated the island, expelling foreigners including humanitarian organizations. The population rebelled and attacked the governor’s residence. The government replied with two extrajudicial executions. International pressure eased hostilities, and political prisoners were released.<\/p>\n It was mostly due to this small island that Equatorial Guinea asked for observer status just after the Community of Portuguese Language Countries<\/a> was formed in 1996, which led to a visit to Equatorial Guinea, in 1998, by the Portuguese foreign minister, Jaime Gama<\/a>. Its historic, ethnographic, and religious identity is reflected in its provincial flag. In 2006, Equatorial Guinea achieved observer status with the hand of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe, it kept lobbying to become a full member, contrary to international pressure that wanted to isolate the country due to human rights violations, becoming a full member in 2014 with the very active support of Portuguese-speaking Africa, with the Portuguese language being restored as an official language.<\/p>\n Annob\u00f3n is an extinct volcano about 220 miles (350 km) west of Cape Lopez in Gabon] and 110 miles (180 km) southwest of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 Island. The main island measures about 4 miles (6.4 km) long by 2 miles (3.2 km) wide,[3] with an area of about 6 3\u20444 square miles (17 km2), but a number of small rocky islets surround it, including Santar\u00e9m to the south. Its central crater lake is named Lago A Pot and its highest peak is Quioveo<\/a>, which rises 598 meters (1,962 ft). The island is characterized by a succession of lush valleys and steep mountains, covered with rich woods and luxuriant vegetation.<\/p>\n Annob\u00f3n is often described as being “in the Gulf of Guinea”, like the neighboring islands of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe<\/a>, but the formal boundary line for the Gulf of Guinea established by the International Hydrographic Organization<\/a> actually runs north of it.<\/p>\n Annobon is of strategic importance to Equatorial Guinea as through its ownership the Equatorial Guinean government claims extensive maritime territory to the south of its neighbour, S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe (which itself lies to the south of Equatorial Guinea’s main land mass). Oil in the Gulf of Guinea represents more than 80% of Equatorial Guinea’s economy, though supplies from current reserves are predicted by some sources to run out before 2020. Although no drilling is currently taking place in S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9, there are estimated to be 34 billion barrels (5.4\u00d7109 m3) of oil within its marine borders. Equatorial Guinea claims the right to explore for and produce hydrocarbons in a huge area of sea surrounding Annob\u00f3n that stretches from 1\u00b0N to almost 5\u00b0S, and from 2\u00b0E to 7\u00b0E, an area larger than the entire land and sea borders of the rest of Equatorial Guinea.<\/p>\n Since October 15, 2013, with the official opening of the new Annobon airport<\/a>, Annobon has been accessible solely by air from both Malabo<\/a> and Bata<\/a> via CEIBA Intercontinental<\/a>, the Equatorial Guinean flag carrier airline.<\/p>\n There are no scheduled ferry or other ocean approaches.\u00a0 Travel on the island is via a road network that links all population centers of the island.<\/p>\nEtymology:<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>History:<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Geography:<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Economy:<\/h2>\n
Transportation:<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>The Flag of Annobon Province:<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>