Situated on the islet of Ilhéu de Sal Rei, off the northwestern coast of Boa Vista, Cape Verde, lies the ruined Forte Duque de Bragança. The fort was named after the Duke of Bragança and was built to defend a stretch of coast where the anchorage required protection from piracy and coastal raiding in the Atlantic Ocean.
The island produced salt, which attracted international trade and wealth. Due to the threat of raids, the fort was sacked in 1815 and 1817, which led to the construction of a new fort in 1818.
Today, the fort remains in ruins. It has been partly excavated archaeologically by the University of Cambridge to study its history.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Mutabor
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