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Cape Verde: Cape Verde Geography Profile 2012

2012/02/28

Cape Verde Geography Profile 2012

The Cape Verde archipelago is located approximately 604 kilometres (375 mi) off the coast of West Africa. It is composed of ten islands (of which nine are inhabited) and eight islets.

The islands have a combined size of just over 4,000 square kilometers. The islands are divided into the Barlavento (windward) islands (Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista) and the Sotavento (leeward) islands (Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava).

The largest island, both in size and population, is Santiago, where the capital of Praia is located.

Location:

Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Geographic coordinates:

16 00 N, 24 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area

Total:

4,033 sq km

Comparison to the world:

175

Land:

4,033 sq km

Water:

0 sq km

Note:

Area comparative:

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries Total:

0 km

Land boundaries Note:

Border countries

Countries:

Coastline

Value:

965 km

Note:

Maritime claims

Territorial sea:

12 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)

Note:

Natural resources:

salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Land use

Kind:

arable land

Percentage:

11,41%

Year:

2005

Note:

Kind:

permanent crops

Percentage:

0,74%

Kind:

other

Percentage:

87,85%

Irrigated land

Value:

30 sq km

Year:

2003

Total renewable water resources

Value:

0.3 cu km

Year:

1990

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

Total:

0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)

Per capital:

39 cu m/yr

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

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