Photos

Texto em português mais abaixo.
São Vicente (Cape Verde) is a very dry island. Drinking water must be produced from seawater in desalinization plants. So, the presence of thousands of soldiers last summer during the NATO Steadfast Jaguar 2006 exercises could menace the supply of fresh water for the population. Therefore the NATO expeditionary force established its own desalination plant on the northern shore of the island, near Baía das Gatas. The task was assigned to a Hungarian unity — for my surprise, since Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe and I wouldn't expect that they have expertise in desalinization plants. However, they were very successful and they produced more water than needed for the troops, and thus NATO furnished fresh water for the civilian population — an always welcome gift in this dry island.
The picture shows the Hungarian camp, seen from Baía das Gatas; in the workshop there is a closer view; the desalinization apparatus are at left side. The background is the Monte Verde (the highest peak of the island) and the village and beach of Praia do Norte (Norte da Baía). However, contrary to the illusion, the Hungarian settlement is on a spit of rocks closer to Baía das Gatas (it is the finger of land at left in the photo of a general view of Praia do Norte).
These black rocks in foreground are typical of this volcanic island.
In the other workshop there are Hungarian military vehicles and a French military tank truck used by the NATO to distribute the fresh water produced by the Hungarians.
Location of Baía das Gatas in WikiMapia: 16.9036888, -24.9110699.
Location of the summit of Monte Verde in WikiMapia: 16.8688143, -24.933123.
Durante os exercícios da NATO (Steadfast Jaguar 2006) no verão passado em São Vicente, Cabo Verde, a água potável foi produzida por uma unidade de dessalinização operada por tropas da Hungria. A água em excesso era doada às populações.