island of Cape Verde, in the Atlantic Ocean, between the islands of Boa Vista and Santiago, about 400 miles (640 km) off the West African coast. It has an area of 104 square miles (269 square km) and rises to an altitude of 1,430 feet (436 m). The main economic activities are agriculture (corn 【maize】, beans, potatoes) and salt extraction. Porto Inglês, on the southwestern coast, is the chief town and administrative capital of Maio Island. Pop. (1990 prelim.) 4,964.