|
|
|
       
| |
|
|
Cape Verde:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other pages in this profile of Cape Verde:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
| |
Background |
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. |
| |
Location |
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal |
Geographic coordinates |
16 00 N, 24 00 W |
Map references |
Political Map of the World |
Area |
total: 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative |
slightly larger than Rhode Island |
Land boundaries |
0 km |
Coastline |
965 km |
Maritime claims |
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate |
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic |
Terrain |
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island) |
Natural resources |
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum |
Land use |
arable land: 11.41% permanent crops: 0.74% other: 87.85% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
30 sq km (2003) |
Natural hazards |
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active |
Environment - current issues |
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing |
Environment - international agreements |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note |
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site |
|
Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |