Cape Verde is located in Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal.
Land in Cape Verde is steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic.
Cape Verdean land covers an area of 4033 square kilometers which is slightly larger than Rhode Island
As for the Cape Verdean climate; temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic.
Cape Verdean(s) speak Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words).
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Praia Mindelo Santa Maria Santa Cruz São Filipe Assomada Tarrafal Porto Novo | Vila da Ribeira Brava Ponta do Sol Vila do Maio Sal Rei Pombas Porto dos Mosteiros |
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.
This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for 66% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted for 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
Cape Verdean natural resources include salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
Cape Verdean religion is Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene).
Natural hazards in Cape Verde include prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active.