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Geography of Cape Verde – The Ultimate Free Guide 2021

• The Cape Verde Islands are located in the mid-Atlantic Ocean some 570 km (354 mi) off the west coast of the continent of Africa. The landscape varies from dry plains to high active volcanoes with cliffs rising steeply from the ocean.

Geography of Cape Verde

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Caper Verde Location Map on World Map

Region:

Atlantic Ocean

Area:

4,033 km² 

Capital:

Praia

Population:

5.5 lakhs

Bordering Countries:

• Gambia,
• Guinea-Bissau,
• Mauritania, and
• Senegal.

Language:

Portuguese

Geographical Coordinates:

16.5388° N, 23.0418° W

World Region or Continent:

Africa

General Terrain:

Steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic.

Geographical Low Point:

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Geographical High Point:

Mount Fogo 2,829 m

Climate:

• A cold Atlantic current produces an arid atmosphere around the archipelago. December–June is cool and dry, with temperatures at sea level averaging 21 °C (69.8 °F); July–November is warm and dry, with temperatures averaging 27 °C (80.6 °F). 
• Rainfall is sparse overall and very erratic. Accumulations are generally around 130 mm (5.12 in) annually in the northern islands and 300 mm (11.81 in) in the south.
• Rainfall is irregular, historically causing periodic droughts and famines. 
• The Cape Verde islands are a very degraded area. Also, most islands do not always get a monsoon.
• If rain arrives, it is usually between August and October. The first “rainy season” brings high temperatures and high humidity that condenses as dew mountain. The other rainy season is between December and June.

Major cities:

• Praia, Cape Verde
• Mindelo, Cape Verde
• Santa Maria, Cape Verde
• Cova Figueira, Cape Verde
• Espargos, Cape Verde
• Pedra Badejo, Cape Verde
• Sao Filipe, Cape Verde
• Assomada, Cape Verde
• Tarrafal, Cape Verde
• Porto Novo, Cape Verde
• Ribeira Brava, Cape Verde
• Calheta de Sao Miguel, Cape Verde
• Ponta do Sol, Cape Verde
• Vila do Maio, Cape Verde
• Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde

Major Land forms:

• The islands are hilly and mountainous (all volcanic in origin), and encircled by rugged cliffs and reefs. The islands are divided into two groups: the windward islands and the leeward islands.
• Santiago is the archipelago’s largest island, both in size and population. Extensive salt flats cover Sal and Maio, while arid slopes transition into fields of sugarcane on Santiago, Santo Antao, and Sao Nicolau.

Major Rivers and Lakes:

There are No Rivers and lakes in this country.

Demonym(s):

Cape Verdean or Cabo Verdean

Natural Resources:

• Salt,
• Basalt rock,
• Limestone,
• Kaolin,
• Fish,
• Clay, and
• Gypsum

Major Geographical Features:

Biomes & Ecosystems:

Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests

Topography:

• The island chain is of volcanic origin. Fogo has the only active volcano, Pico do Cano (Mount Fogo), which reaches 2,829 m (9,281 ft) above sea level. Peaks on Santo Antão and São Tiago reach 1,979 m (6,493 ft) and 1,392 m (4,567 ft), respectively. All but three of the islands are quite mountainous, with prominent cliffs and deep ravines. High ground and southwestern slopes support lush vegetation because of moisture condensation. Only four islands have year-round running streams. Mindelo on São Vicente is the principal port, but there are several other fine harbors.

Oceans:

Mid-Atlantic Ocean

Islands:

• Santiago
• São Vicente
• Santo Antão
• Fogo
• Sal
• São Nicolau
• Brava
• Maio
• Boa Vista
• Santa Luzia
• Cape Verde

Mountain Ranges:

Facts about Cape Verde:

• The archipelago is made up of ten islands and five islets
• It is the third largest nesting site for loggerhead turtles
• Only half a million people live here, the majority on Santiago
• Santa Luzia is the archipelago’s only uninhabited island
• Boa Vista’s waters are a breeding ground for humpback whales
• Sal was once a centre for salt mining
• The archipelago was uninhabited until the 15th century

Detailed Map of Cape Verde

Physical Map of Cape Verde

See Also:

World Map

References:

• Wikipedia
• Ontheworldmap
• Nationsencyclopedia