The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe is a country off the west coast of Africa, comprised of the two islands of Sao Tome and Principe. It has a total area of 960 km2. The climate is tropical; hot and humid with one rainy season from October to May. The terrain is volcanic and mountainous. Natural resources are fish and large off-shore oil deposits. The religion is primarily Roman Catholic and also Evangelical Protestant, and Seventh-Day Adventist. The offcial language is Portuguese with Fang also spoken. The islands were uninhabited until being colonised by the Portugese in 1471 who sent convicts and exiled Jews to the islands. Then in the 19th century the Portugese establish sugar, coffee and cocoa plantations on the islands and imported slaves to work them. The Portugese colony became an overseas province of Portugal in 1951, self-governing in 1973 and fully independent in 1975 since when the country's oil reserves have attracted the attention of American oil companies. Research Sao Tome and Principe
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Research Sao Tome and Principe