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Vasco

Vasco

overview

Vasco da Gama, often shortened to Vasco) is the largest city in the state of Goa on the west coast of India. It is named after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Vasco has Goa\'s largest population, estimated at over 100,000. It is also the headquarters of the Mormugao taluka. The town lies on the western tip of the Mormugao peninsula, at the mouth of the Zuari River, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Panaji (Panjim), Goa\'s capital, and about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the Dabolim Airport (GOI).
The place was founded in 1543, and remained in Portuguese hands until 1961, when Goa was annexed to India. The Indian Navy\'s Goa Naval Area (base) is located at Vasco from which it controls Dabolim airport and, in effect, the entire tourism-dependent state of Goa. The historic \'Document of surrender\' was signed by by the Portuguese in front of Vasco\'s municipal council building.
There have been aborted attempts in the past to change the name of the city to Sambhajinagar.