It is one of the three sandy eastern islands of the Cape Verde archipelago in the central Atlantic Ocean, 350 miles (560 km) off the west coast of Africa.

Cabo Verde is known for year-round kiteboarding, for the large reserve of Caretta turtles which hatch from July to September, and the music of Cesaria Evora.

This name was changed into the current "Sal" when the two large salt ponds (Pedra de Lume and Santa Maria) were discovered.

[citation needed] The first three centuries after its discovery, the island was only sparsely inhabited; in 1720 there was a small fishing village near present Palmeira.

Northeast of the airport, workers from São Nicolau Island settled in a village named Preguiça, now part of Espargos.

Hurricane Fred struck the island of Sal in late summer 2015, causing damage to houses, tourist facilities and ships.

This municipality consists of one freguesia (civil parish), Nossa Senhora das Dores, which also covers the whole island.

[citation needed] The freguesia is subdivided into the following settlements: Since 2016, the Movement for Democracy (MpD) is the ruling party of the municipality.

The island's main stadium is Estádio Marcelo Leitão situated southeast of Espargos's center and all regional matches are played.