Ilhéu das Rolas

Ilhéu das Rolas

275px Map of São Tomé and Príncipe
Geography
Location	São Tomé and Príncipe
Coordinates
Country
São Tomé and Príncipe
Demographics
Population	200

Ilhéu das Rolas is an islet in São Tomé and Príncipe, in Africa. The island lies on the equator, off the southern tip of São Tomé Island. It is in the Caué District of São Tomé Province. The island is home to a small resort.

The main and almost single economic activity is tourism related mainly to the resort. A permanent population of approximately 200 people works directly in tourism.

Access to Rolas is exclusively by boat from Porto Alegre on the southernmost tip of São Tomé island.

Confirmation of equatorial position

Gago Coutinho (1869–1959), officer of the Portuguese Navy, navigator and historian, headed a geodesic mission to São Tomé between 1915 and 1918, when marks were placed as a basis for a geodetic network in the archipelago. After that, observations for triangulation, precise base measurement and astronomical observations were made. The exact coordinates of the triangulation station on the island are .

In the process, Gago Coutinho proved that Ilhéu das Rolas is crossed by the equatorial line. The resulting map was delivered in 1919, together with the Report of the Geodetic Mission on São Tomé Island 1915–1918, that was officially considered the first complete work of practical geodesy in the Portuguese colonies.

Gallery

• Rolas Furnas Geysir Sao Tome e Principe.jpg

  Furnas in Rolas

• São Tomé - Ilhéu das Rolas - Praia de Santo António (3).jpg

  Strand Santo António

• São Tomé - Ilhéu das Rolas HDR.jpg

  Ilhéu das Rôlas, STP

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  Resort Pestana Equador

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  The equator marked as it crosses Ilhéu das Rolas, in São Tomé and Príncipe