The former Portuguese possession of Goa, Daman and Diu (now a union territory of west-central India) occupied an area of 1,441 sq. mi. (3,733 sq. km.) and a population of about 200,000. Capital: Panaji. It is the site of a fine natural harbor and of iron and manganese deposits. ,Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, first visited the west coast of India in 1498. Shortly thereafter the Portuguese arrived in strength and captured Goa (1510), Diu (1535), and Daman (1559), and a number of other coastal enclaves and small islands, and for more then a century enjoyed a virtual monopoly on trade. With the arrival of powerful Dutch and English fleets in the first half of the 17th century, Portuguese power in the area declined, until virtually all that remained under Portuguese control were the enclaves of Goa (south of Bombay), Daman (due north of Bombay) and Diu (northwest of Bombay). They were invaded by India in 1961 and annexed to India in 1962.,, Rulers:,,, ,Portuguese to 1961,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Rupia = 16 Tangas = 960 Reis to 1958,, ,1 Escudo = 100 Centavos, 1958-1962,,