The island of Brava is the smallest of the whole of the Archipelago, with a surface area of 64 Km2 and the maximum length of 9 Km East-Westward. It is very mountainous, with deep and abrupt valleys, and its highest point is Pico Fontainhas, measuring 976 meters. The coastline is very rugged and many bays form there. The island of Brava is definitely the most humid island of the Archipelago, very well known for its rich vegetation and diverse flower species, and thus referred to as the «Island of Flowers».

The island was populated in 1620 mainly with the inhabitants of the island of Fogo, which is located only 20 km away, and who fled from the sporadic eruptions of the volcano of the island of Fogo, specially the great eruption of 1680.

The constant droughts were the main cause for the emigration of the local people to the United States of America, in the whaleboats, at the end of the 18th century. Most of the emigrating people were local men recruited to work in the whaleboats because they were considered to be good sailors. Many of those men from the islands of Brava and Fogo settled in the USA and together they constitute the largest Capeverdean community of the Diaspora.

In the past the main economic activities were the extraction of earth orchid, and agriculture and fishing which are until today the basis of the economy of the island, together with the remittances of moneys from the emigrating community in the United States of America to their family members.

Source: Cape Verde Tourist Guide