The Cape Verde Islands are a travel paradise with golden desert sand and black lava rock, where thesummerlasts all year. A tropical haven for visitors and wonderfully suited for hikers and water sports enthusiasts. The archipelago 500 km off the coast of West Africa is a melting pot of cultures with a unique character.
Before the colonization by Portuguese in 1460 was Cape Verde uninhabited. As a result of the colonization, Santiago, the largest of the Cape Verde island, revived. Through the cheap Located off the West African coast, the islands became a focal point for African expeditions. In addition, an important selling point for African slaves developed here.
When the Portuguese discovered and settled the islands, they naturally brought their culture with them. The European-born locals mingled with their slaves over time, about 70 percent of the current Cape Verde population are mulattos. Cape Verde has a mix of European and African cultures. This is how a new Creole culture developed.
The influences of different cultures can also be found in music. Cape Verde was the famous singer Cesaria Evora, who achieved international fame with her music.
The weather on the Cape Verde Islands is almost optimal for tourists. However, the drought does not always make it easy for the islands and their residents. The vegetation on the islands is often desert-like. Nevertheless, the dry grasslands with the Canary Island date palms, which often grow on Cape Verde, offer varied views.
Unfortunately, there are relatively few animal species on the islands. Different types of bats are most common. There are hardly any larger mammals on Cape Verde. Reptiles such as geckos and skinke feel comfortable in the dry conditions and are present in large numbers on Cape Verde.
Area: 4,033 km², one of the smallest countries in Africa.
Population: 516,100 people (July 2011, COUNTRYAAH.COM), one of the poorest countries in Africa. Cape Verde’s population is 71% Creole with black African-Portuguese origin, blacks make up 28%; Whiteness of 1%.
Population density: 128 people per km².
Population growth: 1.446% per year (2011, CIA).
Capital: Praia (113,000 residents, 2005).
Here is a complete list of the major cities on Cape Verde.
Form of government: Cape Verde has been a republic since 1975, the constitution dates from 1992 and was last changed in 1995 and 1999. The unicameral parliament consists of 72 members. Cape Verde has been independent of Portugal since July 5, 1975.
Administrative division: 17 districts (concelhos, singular – concelho): Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente and Tarrafal.
Prime Minister: Prime Minister José Maria Neves, since April 3, 2004
Head of state: President Jorge Carlos Fonseca, since September 9, 2011
Highest point: Mt. Fogo, 2,829 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean, 0 m
Language: The official language in Cape Verde is Portuguese, the native Crioulo is spoken by most islanders. Sometimes one understands English or French.
Religion: Mostly Christians, about 95.9% of them Catholics; Protestants and others 4.1%.
Local time: CET – 2 h.
In Cape Verde there is no change between summer and winter time.
The time difference to Central Europe is -2 h in winter and -3 h in summer.
Telephone code: 00238 or +238
Internet identifier:.cv
Mains voltage: 220 V, 50 Hz
Geography
Cape Verde is located in the eastern Atlantic about 560 km northwest of Senegal and consists of ten volcanic islands (nine of which are inhabited) and five small islands. The island extends between the 15th and 17th parallel of latitude north latitude over an area of 300 km in the north / south and 250 km west / east direction. The highest point in Cape Verde, the Pico de Fogo, is 2,829 m high.
The name of the archipelago comes from Portuguese sailors who discovered the mountainous islands in 1456 and took possession of them in 1495. They called the westernmost outpost of Africa Cabo Verde, which means “green (forested) Cape”.
A distinction is made between the islands above the wind (Barlavento) in the north and below the wind (Sotavento) in the south. The Barlavento archipelago consists of São Vicente, São Antão, São Nicolau, Santa Lucia, Sal and Boa Vista as well as the smaller islands of Branco and Raso. São Tiago, Maio, Fogo and Brava as well as the smaller islands Rei and Rombo form the Sotavento Islands. The islands are of volcanic origin, most of them mountainous .
There is an active volcano on Fogo, the Pico de Fogo. This is where the volcanic origin of Cape Verde is most evident. The volcano with its almost classic cone shape has been active several times in the past. In contrast, the volcanoes on the other islands have long been extinguished. The islands are largely built up of their lava and ash layers.
The Portuguese have caused a degeneration of the soil in the formerly green area. In Cape Verde, similar to the Canary Islands, there have probably been forests in the wetter regions. Deep gorges created by soil erosion run through the very uneven terrain. In areas that are level enough to farm, volcanic soil has become unprofitable due to erosion.
Cape Verde population
This map of Cape Verde’s population distribution was created by the Worldmapper team. Densely populated areas appear bloated, the area of sparsely populated areas is reduced. The shape of the grid has been preserved; an underlying map with the original geographical extent helps interpret the map. The distorted map should help to present abstract statistical information clearly.
